notarrowette | Bart's Back!

Current Mood: ecstatic
Current Location: Room 415, Elias

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Bart's Back!

[RP with sofasterthanyou]

Cissie dragged just about every snack food she had out of the cupboard before turning to the mini-fridge. She was going to need to go shopping tomorrow but she didn't care at all. She checked her cell phone again after sticking some nachos in the microwave--nothing from Tim yet. She was dying to tell him about Bart, but she knew he was working and she didn't want to risk interrupting, particularly since he'd warned her that he would be out of touch for a while.

While the microwave worked its magic, she went back to her computer and laughed at Bart's latest message before sending one in return: "So--are you coming over?"

Cissie sat back in her chair and chewed on her lip while she waited.

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Cissie raised an eyebrow, slightly amused by his response and the accompanying panic she saw cross his face. She poked him lightly. "Sweetie, huh?"

Bart grinned sheepishly, ducking his head. "Sorry, it's just that--well, I'm still old in my head, and you're a pretty teenage girl who's crying on me... It's an adult thing." He laughed, chewing on his lip slightly.

She squeezed her arms around him a little. "An adult thing..." She shook her head. "Wow, Bart. This might take some adjusting to--I'm used to being the big sister here." She smiled up at him. "How are you adjusting?"

Bart shrugged, returning her squeeze. "It's not so bad... most of the time I'm okay. The carpet in the motel I'm staying in looks frighteningly like the carpet Sh--um, I used to have at home, so that's a little hard, but I'm managing okay. It's good to be back in familiar surroundings."

"See, it's that 'most of the time' that makes me want to ask if you want to talk," she said. "And then you say you had a carpet and I boggle over that for a second and then it hits me that you said you're staying in a hotel and I want to ask why."

"Um, because I don't really have anywhere else to go?" Bart sounded unsure of himself, which he found frustrating. "Besides, I'm sixteen again, Ciss. I can't own my own place." He shrugged. "As for the rest of it, well... No, I don't really want to talk about it. Not now, anyway. I don't think I can, without dissolving into inappropriate hysterics."

Cissie dropped her head to Bart's shoulder again, rubbing his back a little. As hard as it was for her to grasp the idea of Bart growing up and being an adult--and being sixteen again... It had to be even harder for Bart, who had lived it. "I don't think it'd be inappropriate," she said quietly. "But--I won't push. I'd like to hear about it sometime, though. I know I've said it, but--I missed you. We all did." She paused before saying, "I'm... sure there are places you could go, Bart, if you wanted to..."

Bart sighed, resting his cheek on Cissie's blonde hair. "Maybe sometime I'll tell you about it. It's just--I--" He took a steadying breath, swallowing hard. "I left a lot behind, when I came back. And I don't like to think about it, because it hurts. A lot." He squeezed his eyes shut. "I can't really escape it, though. When in all the time you've ever known me, have I said that I would 'dissolve into inappropriate hysterics?'" He shrugged. "I used verisimilitude in a sentence and Kon nearly freaked out. I can't just un-grow up. Sometimes it's hard to remember I'm just a kid."

Bart laughed mirthlessly, part sheepish and part worried. "I haven't actually talked to Jay or Wally yet. I don't know who else to turn to."

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "If there's anything I can do... Just say the word, Bart. Really. And I'm sure Jay and Wally will be thrilled when they hear you're back." She hesitated, chewing on her lip for a moment. "I'm sorry you had to leave so much behind. I--But I'm really selfishly glad that you did."

"Yeah, Ciss, I know. Thanks." He took in a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds to calm down. Breaking down with Cissie like he had with Kon wouldn't be a good idea. It was hard enough the first time 'round. "I hope so too," he said softly, thinking back to all the petty fights he and Wally had. Family picked fights, he knew that, but there were times it seemed more personal than that.

Squeezing her lightly, Bart smiled. "I'm glad I did, too. I think--I ho--I know it's worth it. You're worth it."

Cissie hugged Bart tighter. "Good," she muttered. "I--we all--missed you. Jay and Wally too."

Bart was glad for Cissie's presence. It helped him keep it together. "Yeah, I hope so," he replied, holding her close.

Cissie gave a light laugh that was only a little shaky. "Bart, really--trust me on that. Nobody's going to be anything but thrilled that you're back."

Bart shook his head, wiping a hand down his face as if he could erase his expression with it. "Of course they are. I'm just being ridiculous." His laugh mirrored Cissie's in questionable stability. "Just ignore little old me."

Cissie's back was beginning to hurt from the way she was slouched over, so she shifted, moving to sit up. They were about eye level now and she leaned her head against the mattress to smile at him fondly. "Hate to tell you, but that's not going to happen. Now that we know you're back, you're probably not going to have a moment's peace--not in real time, anyway."

Bart let go of his grip on Cissie, letting his arms fall, one still loosely looped around her waist. He nudged her shoulder with his, letting a small smile form on his face. "Well, that's good." He chuckled. "I'm going to resent this little piece of melodrama soon, aren't I? Everyone's going to be constantly asking me if I'm okay."

"Maybe a little," she said with a small smile. "You might have to be patient with us--we're probably going to be a little overprotective for a while."

Bart breathed a laugh out his nose. "Understandable, I suppose. Even so, let's keep this our little secret, yeah?" He tilted his head just enough so that he could see Cissie out of the corner of his eye, smiling conspiratorially.

Cissie smiled back at him, smirking a little. "I don't know; I'm not very good at keeping secrets," she teased. A bit more seriously, she added, "Or, you know--Tim's got some kind of secret-detecting radar."

"Well, in that case..." Bart grinned. "You gotta pinky-swear." He held out his hand, his littlest finger crooked, and waited expectantly for Cissie to link fingers with him. "A pinky swear is binding. Even Tim can't manage to see past the shield of a pinky swear." The words came almost automatically to him now, after spending so many frustrating hours trying to get his sons to talk to him. Conner would always refuse to say anything because Tim could 'read' secrets. Bart finally remembered something about pinky swears from a book he had read once, and that had managed to end that strange habit.

Cissie laughed and bumped shoulders with him. "First of all, I think you're underestimating Tim," she said with a wink. "And secondly, you're asking me to pinkie-swear to lie to my boyfriend. I'm not sure that's the best relationship advice."

Bart kept his hand where it was. "C'mon, kid, swear!" He laughed. "Also, I'm not asking you to lie to your boyfriend, just don't tell him! Tell him whatever else you want. Tell him my hair's getting too long and I really need to get it cut." He arched an eyebrow, a skill he got much better at over the past thirty years. "It's not lying if you just don't say anything. And when have I been known for giving good advice? I'm terrible at advice!"

Cissie laughed and ruffled Bart's hair again. "If you cut your hair, it won't be nearly as much fun to do this. And honestly, I can't promise not to talk to Tim, since--I pretty much tell him everything these days," she said in a rush. "But I do promise to leave your dignity in tact." She hesitated a moment and then gave him a sheepish smile.

"In the spirit of honesty--I'm a little worried about you, but I'm also stuck on being happy that you're alive and back. So I'm not pushing and I'm focusing on the happy, rather than the worry," she admitted. "And it might take me some time to get used to you being... older. Because the Big Sister mentality is really hard to switch off."

Bart chuckled, leaning his head towards her to make messing up his hair easier. "Yeah, it's okay. He's pretty much stupidly head-over-heels for you too. It's cute." It was cute, and it made him feel a little empty inside, but he didn't mention that. It wasn't Cissie's fault that she could manage a successful relationship while he couldn't. "Well, thanks anyway," he added, returning her smile.

Bart sighed, looking away from where Cissie was watching him worriedly. "I'll tell you about it sometime, Ciss, I promise. Just... not right now, okay?" He blinked a few times in rapid succession, just in case he had gotten a little 'dust' in his eyes. "I nearly broke down on Kon, I don't think I can handle doing it again so soon. It's hard to get used to for me too. And don't worry about it," he added, chuckling softly. "I like it. Being fussed over." It was nice, after so long of being the one doing the fussing.

Cissie played with Bart's hair a little more to give herself a chance to stop blushing. She was relieved that Bart seemed to be okay about her and Tim--she hadn't really known what he would think. She didn't want to tell him that after he died, she and Tim had needed each other. "Anita says we're disgusting," she admitted shyly.

She stopped messing with his hair when he looked away and stroked it instead, smoothing her hand over his head gently. "I'm glad you like it," she said. She hesitated a little, not sure how Bart would take what she wanted to say--she'd never really told him this, and she wasn't sure if she should, but--she had learned a few things about saying things before it's too late. "Because--you're the closest thing I've got to a brother, Bart. And I've missed fussing over you." She managed a small smile. "Tim gets frustrated when I do it to him, and then he starts in on me and it's not at all the same. I'll be good--I'll wait until you're ready to tell me. Just say the word, okay?"

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