Navy Storm ~*~ [ RALPH DIBNY ]

thirteen

based off 4.13
true colors

~*~

     Olive slammed her car door shut as she climbed up the stairs towards Ralph's office. He apparently still needed to finish cases that he took up. She decided it would be easier to get them out of the way if she helped him. When she opened the door slowly, she heard a Scottish accent talking. 

     "Clear your calendar, slim. 'Cause I've got a score that'll knock your honey glazed holiday ham into next Christmas," the scottish man said. 

     "Yeah, I don't think any of those words mean what you think they do," Ralph said with a slight chuckle. Olive paused, deciding to listen in a bit more. 

     "How about these words for you? A rich, old heiress hires me to find her other boyfriend, the pool boy, as a gold digger. Turns out, he is. But pool boy is willing to share said gold with someone who can help him keep up appearances, so to speak, and that my friend is your specialty. Are you in?" 

     "I don't do that kind of stuff anymore," Ralph told the man. "Ralph Dibny's gone straight." Olive's hand faltered as she hit the door and opened it, stumbling in. She stood up straight as the two men looked at her, she waved slightly. 

     "Hey, Ralph. Just stopping by to help with the cases like you asked," Olive said pointing at him. 

     "Who's this?" the man said standing up and walking towards Olive, looking her up and down. 

     "The girl that'll kick your ass if you don't take your eyes off my chest," Olive told him with a sweet smile. He looked up, then back at Ralph, a smile on his face. 

     "I like her," he said. "This what you were talking about? New friends?" 

     "As a matter of fact, yes, Earl," Ralph said with a nod. 

     "Well, we'll see," Earl said walking to the door. Olive took a few steps back, not taking her eyes off of the strange Scottish man. 

     "Meaning?" Ralph asked in an annoyed voice. 

     "Meaning... I love you, Ralphy, I really do. But you let people down, especially the good ones," Earl said as he nodded slightly at Olive. "They get close to you, place their trust in you, and then, bam, you screw up, every single time." Olive went quiet as she looked back at Ralph who had a horrified look on his face. "So, when you let your new friends down, give your old one a call." Earl winked at Ralph, then at Olive. They watched as he left the room, then Olive turned to Ralph to see the frown that had taken root on his face. 

     "W-Who was that?" Olive asked nodding at the door. 

     "And old friend," Ralph stated. Olive nodded slowly as she pulled up a chair, and sat next to Ralph. She took his hand, making Ralph look over at her. 

     "Don't listen to Davey Jones out there. He doesn't know the real you, he knows drunk you. You've changed and you're better now," Olive said with a small smile. "No matter what if you let us down, we will not judge you. We all make mistakes." 

     "Like how you got caught eavesdropping a minute ago?" Ralph asked. 

     "Yeah, like that," Olive said with a nod. She placed a hand on his face and smiled. "Now let's do some work then head down to S.T.A.R. Labs." Ralph nodded, kissing her cheek. They dug into his old cases, the toxic air clearing in a second. 

          *****

     Ralph and Olive had gotten an alert from S.T.A.R. Labs to come in to discuss Barry. Of course, they didn't leave until ten minutes after the alert, and then there was traffic. When they got in, it seemed like Ralph's bad mood was back.