{ota} all those years

[eucre]

The quiet day.

According to Declán, this day where she wanted to sit very silent and just listen to the world was special. Something about it being the day she was born oh-so-many years ago. The day they were born.

Piper will be soft, out of the way as she always is on this date. Yet those looking for her won't have to look long to find her.

Comments

[piqued]

It's a day of Reflection. It has been for years now. This year, his father's words ringing in his ears, he almost decides it's time to End the tradition of sitting a mental sort of vigil for those who are lost.

But this year, there's someone who Isn't lost. Someone who's Real, not just a Memory.

So the time taken off from Work is given to finding a certain young Joker he half expects will appear, like the ghost of her twin, beside his door when he moves to unlatch it.

[eucre]

She's there. They're both there. Or maybe just her.

"Happy birthday?" she asks quietly, arms reaching out to her Brother. She usually doesn't ask for cuddles. Today, though, is different.

[piqued]

It's usually Clear. Usually, it feels like it's Just Her. Today...

Today his jaw is tight as he glances down the hall, opens an arm in her direction to pull her against his side, draw her into the quiet of his room. "...happy birthday, Piper."

[eucre]

She hums softly, clinging tight to him and burying her face in his shirt. "Thank you. ... can I have cake later?" she asks, peeking up at him. "That's what birthdays are, right?"

[piqued]

The affection is surely Allowed, once the door's closed behind them. He's surely Permitted to curl her close and rest his face against the top of her head.

"...I suppose we could find you some, mm? If you'd like that."

[eucre]

She sinks happily into the embrace, thin fingers curling around his shirt. "... D'like t'spend time with you. S'all."

[piqued]

"'ve got a little while." Which, really, is More than he usually has. Is absolutely something quietly Affectionate. "All right?"

[eucre]

She thinks about it, then nods. "Quiet. A... a good quiet." She hesitates, then says softly, "y'said... you'd tell me about... about something. About fixing things."

[piqued]

It would have been better if she had Forgotten. But it's her--their--her birthday.

The kiss to the top of her head is brief before he lets go slightly, nudges her toward the bed. "...about responsibility. And... guilt, mm?"

[eucre]

She nods softly. "Why he feels guilty even though he's Superman."

[piqued]

"Dunna why you think that." His attention goes to his own cuffs, to the careful loosening of his tie. They'll be sitting together, after all. She'll be clinging. The suit needs to be Saved. "'ve not done much."

[eucre]

"You keep Piper safe." She leans to press a kiss to his cheek. "You'll always keep Piper safe. Right?"

[piqued]

"Did I th' last twenty years, Piper?" True, he hadn't Known. That didn't make it Right.

[eucre]

"Feilim was... was enough then. When Piper... needed more, you helped me." She believes it. Truly. Enough to try for coherency.

[piqued]

The effort is painful. She gets the same slight Stumble in her words their brother used to have when he was struggling to be a Proper Chives. "'ve not done so much but tell you something painful, you know."

[eucre]

"How... how is it painful? You've... made it better. I have... family now."

[piqued]

He takes the moment to simply fix his cuffs, toes off his shoes. Sits carefully down on the edge of his own bed. "...you have people now. Rather... different than most families."

[eucre]

"I have you," she replies obstinately, chin resting on his shoulder. "S'all I need."

[piqued]

"...an' that's sweet, Piper." If still not at all something he believes.

[eucre]

"S'true. So why... does he feel like s'not enough?"

[piqued]

"... 've never quite been, I suppose." Shifting takes a moment, back far enough that he can lift his arm around her, give her hair a soft tug.

[eucre]

"He's enough for Piper. S'all that matters." She leans to kiss him on the cheek, wrapping her arms around him.

[piqued]

There's a soft sigh for that. "For you. Not-- for everyone."

Certainly not for their Father.

[eucre]

"... so? Declán can't... save everyone. Can't be everywhere at once. Sometimes he is, though, so everyone should think that's enough."

[piqued]

"But they don't. An' if-- I were, Piper, we'd--" Still have a Brother.

She understands that, doesn't she?