Bart's Back!

[notarrowette]

[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.

Comments

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

Cissie smiled at the top of Bart's head, watching him eat. "It's fine--not much has changed around here, except for the room change. It just--wasn't really working, living with Cassie."

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

Noting sadly that all the cookies were gone, Bart nodded in sympathy. "That's too bad," he said, nudging Cissie's knee with his temple to reassure her of his presence. "How are things with Tim?"

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

Cissie felt her stupid, dopey grin return and she blushed. She pushed her hair back behind her ear and was a little grateful that Bart wasn't looking at her to see how silly she probably looked. "Um. Good. I mean... things are really good now. I can't wait until he finds out you're back."

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

Bart could tell how smitten she was by the tone of her voice, but politely refrained from teasing her about it. He was just happy Cissie was happy. And that he was back, and that she still wanted to be his friend. However... "That's hardly enough information, Ciss. Aren't girls supposed to go on and on about their boyfriends?" He laughed.

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

Cissie laughed with him and slipped off the bed to sit next to Bart on the floor. She caught his arm and hugged it--she was happy, having him here and being able to talk to him again. "I forgot you were such a gossip," she said, teasing and a bit relieved that he didn't seem to be freaking out about it. "Sorry. Do you want to know about Tim or Tim and me?"

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

Bart pretended to scowl, but he couldn't make himself get mad at her teasing. "I resent that," he muttered, grinning despite himself. Leaving the empty plate on the floor, Bart patted the hands around his arm. "Both!" he declared. "I want to get caught up on everything!"

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

Cissie leaned against Bart, smiling. It wasn't like she minded talking about Tim. "Well," she said slowly, trying to figure out where to start. "I don't know if you knew, but--I've kind of had a crush on Tim for ages. Not, you know, that I even knew it until I was kind of in too deep, I guess. You remember when Tim quit being Robin? We talked a lot--because I knew what he was going through. Anyway. Somewhere between then and when Kon died, I kind of fell for him. But then he went off on that trip, and I just never told him, because the timing was so bad. And then he came back and things were still such a mess, and then you--" She broke off, stumbling over the words and choking a little. Unconsciously, she gripped Bart's arm a bit tighter and dropped her head to his shoulder. She took a shaking breath, trying to find her voice again. She never liked thinking about those dark weeks following Bart's death.

"I kind of owe you," she said quietly. "Like--a lot. I... did a lot of thinking, after... About you. And Tim, and me, and what I wanted. And mostly about you, and what you would have told me if I had been smart enough to talk to you and ask you what I should do about Tim. I kind of thought--I figured--you'd tell me to talk to him and tell him how I felt. Because... life's too short and unpredictable and we've lost so much..." While she talked, forcing the words out as quickly as possible before she could censor them or hold them in, she turned her head and pushed her face into Bart's shoulder. "Anyway, I thought--I thought you'd tell me to tell him. So I did, some time after your funeral."

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

"Oh, Ciss..." Bart didn't know what to say. "I'm so sorry."

Carefully removing his arm from her grip, Bart slid his arm around Cissie's shoulders and pulled her close. "I didn't know..." Even if he did, it really wouldn't have made much of a difference. It wasn't like he went into the Speed Force of his own free will. Besides, if he had known, he would probably have felt like the biggest jerk ever. "You did good, Cissie," he said, resting his cheek on the top of her head.

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

Cissie was grateful for the hug, taking the opportunity to hide her face against him and latch her arms around him. She wasn't entirely successful at continuing to hold back her tears, though she tried. "Yeah?" she asked shakily. "I--I tried." She hugged him closer, remembering Tim's reaction--he hadn't taken it well, and she knew he felt horrible about it now, but sometimes it still hurt to remember.

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," he replied, stroking her hair gently. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he added, sighing. "You and Tim both." Grateful for the years he spent as a parent--even though boys were never as emotional as girls--Bart wasn't freaking out as much as he could. Besides, he wanted to be there for his friends. "You know I love you, right? All of you. No matter what happens."

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

Cissie repositioned a little to lean more comfortably against him. She took a deep breath, letting some of the tension melt away. "I love you too. We all do--that never changed. You know that, right?"

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

Bart leaned back against the side of Cissie's bed, pulling her with him until she was slumped against his side so he could hold her better. Being back in his short teenager body was still weird. Bart was used to having at least a few more inches in reach. "Yeah, I know." He smiled somewhat self-deprecatingly, breathing a laugh out his nose. "You just might have to remind me every once in a while, 'kay?"

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

She tilted her head back to look at him and give him a soft smile. "I think we can manage that. I've really missed you." She watched him quietly for a moment--the last time she'd seen him, he had looked a few years older, and now he was younger again... but seemed older. "Are you okay?"

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

Shaking his head in bemusement, Bart smiled. "I'm fine, sweetie." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he had a mini-panic attack. Had he ever called her that before? He didn't think so, but they were friends a long time ago, for him. There were times when it still felt like he was an adult talking to a teenager, and not a boy of indeterminate age talking to a teenage girl. He didn't want to sound like he was moving in on Tim's girl, either. He had only just come back, alienating his friends would not be a wise first move.

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

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

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

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.

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

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?"

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

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."

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

"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."

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

"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."

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

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..."

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

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."

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

"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."

[sofasterthanyou.livejournal.com]

"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."

[cisskabob.livejournal.com]

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