Connor Hawke ([info]connor_hawke) wrote in [info]jla_watchtower,
2005-09-28 22:33:00
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  • Mood: curious

Pictures on the wall...

Connor is packing his things - both for the move-in with Roy and for the road trip.

"That's odd. Now where did I put..."

His father is still in Gotham, hopefully getting some quiet evenings with his friends. That is, if Batman can call anyone such. Connor also hopes things went well enough with Dinah that Lian's attempt at matchmaking can be either dismissed as a joke or bring up some long-overdue conversation.

He's looking for his scrapbook. The one he took from his mother that was, for the longest time, the only link he had to his father.

He moves aside a box of computer disks and hears something slip behind the file cabinet they were placed on. Gingerly, Connor moves it out from the wall and manages to get a hand behind it, retrieving a manilla envelope. It's legal-sized, stuffed full from the looks of it.

"CONNOR," printed out in his father's longhand, is the only clue as to its contents.

He scowls, debates on opening it, and finally undoes the clasp.

It's a collection of legal paperwork, some documents...but there's a picture and a newspaper clipping that really get the young man's attention.

Connor hopes that Oliver Queen has a damn good explanation for those...
Tags: green arrow connor hawke, green arrow ollie queen

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  • 23 comments

[info]straight_arrow

September 29 2005, 07:10:24 UTC 6 years ago

There is the sound of the front door opening and closing again.

I'm home! Anyone around?

[info]connor_hawke

September 29 2005, 10:18:06 UTC 6 years ago

The temptation to ambush is there, but Connor is not about to take a cheap shot. Let Oliver settle in first, let him catch his breath and THEN explain what's going on. Make him defensive and you won't get a thing out of him.

"Upstairs, Dad."

[info]straight_arrow

September 29 2005, 19:50:36 UTC 6 years ago

Ollie heads upstairs.

Hey! Back from the Jersey shore. Lord, it's good to see Star City again.

How have things been? Nobody taken the place over while I was gone?

[info]connor_hawke

September 29 2005, 20:00:50 UTC 6 years ago

"Nope. Actually pretty quiet, as far as patrols go. Two drug deals and an attempted break-in."

He pauses a little. "Dad. Sit down. I have something I'd like to ask."

[info]straight_arrow

September 29 2005, 20:02:23 UTC 6 years ago

Ollie sits.

What's up? Has Mia been hitting on you again or something?

[info]connor_hawke

September 29 2005, 20:05:48 UTC 6 years ago

Connor has the snicker a little. "Well, we got a good dance in at the chili party, but we both know she's more like a kid sister than anything. Besides..."

He trails off. "Dad, I found something I don't think you wanted me to find - not for a while, anyway."

He turns around, picture and clipping in hand.

[info]straight_arrow

September 29 2005, 20:08:05 UTC 6 years ago

Ollie's face is utterly composed.

...oh.

[info]connor_hawke

September 29 2005, 20:10:57 UTC 6 years ago

Connor isn't angry...yet...but there had better be a damn good explanation.

"You told me that you didn't even know I existed until we met at the ashram. That isn't the case, obviously. So..."

He sighs. "What now? And what else?"

[info]straight_arrow

September 29 2005, 20:15:48 UTC 6 years ago

As for "what else?" Nothing. We have come to the bottom of my dirty little secrets. Aside from my collection of Internet hero-porn, but Roy knows about that, so I don't think it counts.

As for "what now"? You tell me.

I'm guessing you have questions. Shoot.

[info]connor_hawke

September 29 2005, 20:20:52 UTC 6 years ago

"I know about the porn. Mia found it and was having a good laugh about it until I told her to knock it off."

"Mom knew you were my father, but she only kept the scrapbook. Only other thing she mentioned is that you were white...well, and good-looking. Hell, she claimed she didn't even tell you about me, so it means both of you lied. Why?"

[info]straight_arrow

September 29 2005, 20:22:31 UTC 6 years ago

I...we thought it would be easier if you didn't know. Simpler. No pressure on you, you know?

It was probably a bad call, given the way things turned out.

[info]connor_hawke

September 29 2005, 20:32:23 UTC 6 years ago

Connor looks at the picture and the news clipping. The emotions are mixed, but he takes a deep breath and takes a moment to sort out his thoughts. He walks over to the chair opposite Oliver's and sits.

"Maybe."

He thinks a bit more. Thankfully, Dad can keep his silence for a minute.

"I think...I think I would have been very angry and betrayed if I found this under different circumstances."

[info]straight_arrow

September 29 2005, 20:33:59 UTC 6 years ago

I thought maybe.

That's part of why I was afraid to let you know before.

[info]connor_hawke

September 29 2005, 20:42:09 UTC 6 years ago

It's with a bit of irony that he laughs. "If I'd found this when I was a boy at the ashram, I would never have partnered up with you."

"If I had found this when I was the only Green Arrow, then I would have been VERY angry."

"But, now? I tried to talk Roy out of the Olympics. You know how much I tried, and you know my misgivings about that revolving door some heroes get at the afterlife. It seemed...insulting in a way."

Connor puts a hand over Ollie's.

"Because of those things, I've had a chance to know you, to follow in your footsteps, to be the son of a good man. Because I didn't know, and because of those things I didn't trust, I have what I always wanted."

"Make sense?"

[info]straight_arrow

September 29 2005, 20:53:31 UTC 6 years ago

I'm glad you see it that way.

Truth is...I chickened out. I wasn't ready to be a dad and...anyway. I ran. I ran from my responsibilities, and I gave up the chance to ever know you.

But then fate gave me a second chance. First at the ashram, and then...

...When I came back, and I realised who you were, and that you'd taken on the name...

He's crying now.

I was so proud of you, Connor. So proud of what you'd done, what you'd become.

I always wanted to have a family. You know that, you've pointed it out to me more than once. I guess I got what I wanted, too. In spite of myself.

[info]connor_hawke

September 29 2005, 21:08:45 UTC 6 years ago

"No offense, but I kinda figured on the 'chickening out' part. You - and Mom -still are very young at heart, so roll back twenty years, and I can imagine not being ready to handle a child."

"As for taking on the mantle...well, someone has to remind the JLA about the common man. Someone has to take on those smaller fights for the greater good. When you were...gone, it was the best way I could think of in order to honor you."

Connor is getting a little misty-eyed himself. "I'm glad that I could."

"And, yeah, you did get the family you wanted. Roy, Mia, Tara, Lian, me...and always room for more, I suppose."

[info]straight_arrow

September 29 2005, 21:13:07 UTC 6 years ago

Ollie forces a really fake-looking "wicked grin".

Sure. Room for more. Only if I excavate that ruin that used to be the Queen mansion. I swear, one more teenage girl around h--

He can't keep it up. He grins for real, now. Brightly.

...oh, forget it. Who do I think I'm fooling, anyway. I...

Okay. Honesty time. One more secret, and then I have something you should know.

[info]connor_hawke

September 29 2005, 21:23:57 UTC 6 years ago

"You fool no one. It's part of your charm. You'd have half the Youth Center in here if you could manage it. And I know you prefer women to girls. I've read up on you, remember?"

Serious now. "I'm listening."

[info]straight_arrow

September 29 2005, 21:29:56 UTC 6 years ago

He goes serious, too.

This one's kind of a lie of ommission. You found that lying next to a box with a bunch of other stuff in it, including a letter to Roy. I had that box out because it had a ring in it. One I had made from one of Barry's old rings and my diamond-arrow. I took it to Gotham with me.

It wasn't an accident and it wasn't absent-mindedness that the box was lying there. I was hoping you'd find it.

I chickened out again. I thought that it would be easier you finding it than me handing it to you.

He closes his eyes, waiting to see if Connor's mad at the game-playing.

[info]connor_hawke

September 29 2005, 21:33:45 UTC 6 years ago

"Nice trick. Don't do it again." The tone is enough to make one think Connor signed up with the Bat Family, despite the wide grin.

"But a diamond ring? Headed to Gotham with..." Connor puffs out a breath of air. "Lian certainly did kick over a few rocks, didn't she?"

[info]straight_arrow

September 30 2005, 06:22:13 UTC 6 years ago

Lian just said it out loud. I was already thinking it.

It was the plague. Being out of touch with Dinah, and us struggling here...I want my family together, dammit!

...She said no. Well, she said "It's a bad time to ask." I kind of blew up at her.

[info]connor_hawke

September 30 2005, 07:40:10 UTC 6 years ago

Connor gets the start of a sympathetic headache. He knew damn well how Dinah had trouble looking him in the eye when Dad was...gone. He also overheard the "babies, not orphans" line, and had to bite his tongue hard against the temptation to bark "Do I look dead yet?"

One thing that would shock most about Connor is that he did inherit Oliver's temper - it's just been kept in check by years at the ashram.

Hazard of dating as stubborn as you are.

"I'm sorry."

[info]straight_arrow

September 30 2005, 14:37:38 UTC 6 years ago

We'll figure it out...somehow. Or...

Y'know, it'll sit. Me and Dinah need to calm down before anything else happens anyway.

He notices the bag being packed.

You're going somewhere? No, wait. I remember this. Taking off with Roy and Donna, right? Seeing some of America, getting away for a while.

He grins.

An excellent family tradition. Once the League is done making me play janitor I may just grab Hal and do it myself.
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