Avoiding Past And Future

(32)Intermediate

They stood across from an all too familiar window. The heads of two certain cats poking out from the bottom, silently staring at them.

Dick squeezed their interlaced hands tighter. "Are you ready?"

Danny took a deep breath, not breaking his staring contest with the cats. He was already emotionally drained from explaining everything to Dick on their walk back, but there was one last thing he had to do tonight. "Not really." A low whine sounded from behind them, Cujo crouching down impatiently as he guarded the boys. Sighing, the halfa was the first to step forward, dragging Dick with him as he flew them across the alley. Going intangible to let the rain drops fall off, he phased them inside the apartment.

"I'm never going to get used to that feeling, am I?" Dick remarked before a symphony of various angry cats made their annoyance known. Shiro and Nanaki in particular as they screamed at their boys. Nanaki was already halfway clawing up Danny's leg before the boy finally lifted up the screaming cat. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. You can stop now, thank you." He deadpanned as Nanaki purposely pawed at his face.

Dick wasn't doing any better as Shiro had already crawled up onto his shoulders to loudly complain straight into his ears. "Wow, Shiro. Hello to you too, I guess." He cringed as his hearing was being violated. "I see you met them already." He jokingly remarked as Danny was struggling to keep Nanaki's paws off his mouth.

"Danny?"

The pair froze up as they heard Selina call out from somewhere in the apartment. In an instant Dick watched Danny's features shift from black and blue to white and green. He wasn't even sure if Danny was aware of the shift happening as his brother froze up like a deer in headlights. After what felt like forever, Selina entered the main living area, looking like she had been crying since their call ended. She rushed over to where they were standing, coming to a stop just a few steps away from them. Danny looked away, unable to look her in her make-up stained eyes. Dick awkwardly moved Shiro into his arms and shifted his weight away from Danny to let the other two have their moment.

"Danny?" She repeated, a soft tremble in her voice.

Danny kept staring at the floor, finding a particularly interesting scratch mark to focus on. "I," he started, trying to find his voice. "I'm sorry." Just a remarkable piece of art this scratch was, truly. He'd have to look for more. "For running away like that, I mean." Danny made the mistake of glancing up, even for just a split second. The moment their eyes locked, it was like they got knocked out of their trance by force.

One second Selina was in the middle of the room, the next she was holding onto Danny tightly. "You have nothing to apologize for, darling. I should have told you who I was talking to." She hushed, nuzzling her cheek into his damp hair.

"But I-"

"Have the right to know who I discuss your health with when you had asked for privacy. That was a mistake on my part, I should have asked you about it first."

Before either could say anything, Nanaki screamed out from between them, not so kindly reminding them that the feline was still in Danny's arms. Selina chuckled as she stood up slightly to wipe away a stray tear. Smiling over at Dick, she unwrapped an arm from Danny to pull Dick and Shiro into the hug as well. "I'm just happy you boys are safe. That is all that matters at the moment." She softly nuzzled into Dick's hair while tucking away a few black strands from Danny's.

"Well," she wrinkled her nose, "that and getting you two into a shower before the whole place smells like wet dog." At that, they all had a good laugh as both Shiro and Nanaki took their chance to escape from the smell as well. All too soon, however, Selina sobered up again, looking over Danny with a sad smile. "If you still want to stay, that is." Baby blue eyes locked into emerald green ones as Danny peaked out from under his bangs.