Avoiding Past And Future

(72) Misplaced 5

no warnings (i think? possibly tba if i get told to do so)

songs used:

Peter Pan's Following The Leader (only the first bit, F the rest)

Dominum : Dead Dont Die

november 5

Before anybody could even ask or comment on the least wanted presence in the link, the doors to the gym burst open with a cacophony of a child choir. Pulling the attention of every single person in the building, Phantom led the group inside as the children chanted behind him. "Following the leader, the leader, the leader. We're following the leader, wherever he may go."

The group of heroes watched on in a mix of confusion and awe as a group of kids slowly filtered in. Humming along as he led them inside, Phantom didn't even have his eyes open as he waved his icy baton around.

Artemis recognized the teen all the way at the back of the group as the one who went with Phantom before they split up. He was pushing another, very frail looking, child's wheelchair with a soft smile on his face. Taking a closer look at the group Phantom dragged along, they weren't the only one with mobility aids.

"Special needs afterschool care kids acquired." Phantom's voice hummed over the link, smile making it into their minds as he kept playing with the children. "Luke knows the couple that runs a babysitting gig in their apartment. He's more than capable of keeping an eye on them all, if we can get another person to help out." He sounded very casual, not even questioning why a teen would know how to care for high support needs children.

Oh the joys of the real world.

It was a reality check for everybody. No matter how hard they fought to protect everybody, gave up their childhood so others could live theirs. Sometimes, not every hero fights evil. Some just step up when their help is needed.

"Uncle Luke, can we play more with uncle Phantom?" One of the kids in the group asked the teen. Luke looked over to Phantom who tried his best to not make it obvious he was looking at the rest of the team.

"Uncle?"

Phantom was no fool. He knew pushing anything meant there'd be more issues to not-live through. Issues he'd very much like to avoid for the time being. He might not have Bruce or Dick's compartmentalizing skills down just yet, but he was still a master at avoidance. Same difference if you asked him.

Taking initiative beyond silently seething, Zatanna walked over and started helping out with the kids. "I'm sure he won't mind taking a little break for you cuties." She smiled as she shoulder bumped Phantom. "M'gann, any word on when your classmates will be back? We can't stay here the entire night."

As the group finally split up to go help other groups of kids and young teens, M'gann checked her phone to text Karen as she looked for where Malcom had wandered off to. "They're still 15 minutes out, another group of 7 kids but they're a bit older so should be fine." She updated before finding her own group of kids to pair up with older ones before they had to leave.

It was going relatively fine, everybody taking a short break from going out onto the streets and just spending time with the people they were there to protect.

That was, until Phantom and Zatanna's group of kids overheard Artemis messing up some standard nursery rhymes Phantom couldn't even remember the name of. English songs were never his favorite so it took until their little gaggle burst out in giggles for him to realize something was off in the first place.

Artemis tried to laugh it off, hiding her embarrassment of messing up something as silly as a kids song.

"Artemis, are you-"