Avoiding Past And Future

(92) Intermediate

November 13

When Wally invited them to come over to hang out before their sessions with Canary, neither boy expected it to be so...

Boring

Sitting awkwardly around the coffee table sat 7 teens and their respective furballs. Selina made them come along, wanting to help along Cicci and Shminky's socialization with sheer chaos Shiro and Nanaki brought along. Poor Cheddy was just the tiebreaker between social ineptness and the lack of functioning braincells when left unchecked.

Though it gave them a few good laughs at first, it didn't help the more human side of the socializing. All they had been doing the past hour or so was just watch whatever show was playing. With their drinks in hand and snacks on the table, it was just them and the awkward glances between each other as nobody really paid attention to the show.

Or was it a movie? Honestly hard to tell at this point.

Just as hard as it was to ignore the blatant glances at the youngest two in the room. Even Zatanna tried to block them from whatever looks she could body as she shifted around every so often. It didn't help at all, given they were on the center couch in the U formation, but it was the thought that counted.

Thoughts that were, unfortunately so, kept to themselves as the main source of the current awkwardness was the continued lack of direction regarding the two Batlings. Robin had finally informed Phantom he had the last say in staying or not, but that did fuckall to make the choice any easier.

It had its ups and downs, both options.

The only thing they knew for certain was to not ask Frostbite anything about it. Undoubtably the yeti would boast about how great of an opportunity it would be to practice being in charge during uncomfortable tensions with the people. "Good practice makes for good leaders," he'd say while nearly knocking them over with his excitement at the presented chance to learn. All of which made Phantom even more uncomfortable as preparing to take the throne was the last thing on his mind when his body was still littered with proof of his failures.

The only good thing that had come of it was Robin's healing being protected under Clockwork's watch. The mere thought of somebody coming after either of them, but especially the fully living members of the family, made Phantom's stomach summersault into oblivion. A worry that was only slowly ebbing to the back of his mind as Robin's leg was almost back to full health. A few more Manor weeks and he should be back to normal.

But when was normalcy anything but an illusion

Phantom's ghost sense came out of nowhere. Breath forcing its way through his throat as he failed to drink his soda. Cujo jumped to guard his boys, eyes bleeding red but not yet growing in size as the unknown lurked around. The team jumped to defensive positions as well, their only sign of trouble being Cujo's sudden alertness as Phantom hacked out the carbonated evil from his lungs.

Trying to regain his breath, the young ghost glared at his surroundings as his breath remained an ever visible whisp of pale blue. "What the fuck?!" His voice broke as the last remains of soda left his lungs. "Are you trying to kill me a second time?!" He bit out sharply, glass nearly chipping on the table as he set it down. His anger only serving to stress the other heroes out even more.

Robin tried his best to flank his brother, eyes narrowing as he tried to feel for that almost inexplainable vibe he got when he tried to find an invisible Phantom. Zatanna joined on the other side, spells at the tip of her tongue ready to protect the idiots forgetting they're both still injured. Conner drifted closer as well, following Wolf's gaze as neither knew what to even look out for.