Nova Culbert @gothams-star-seeker - Tumblr Blog

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

Roy hadn’t seen the knife until it was too late, a large gash across his shoulder. He’d felt the pain instantly, but ignored it to finish the fight, making sure the cops showed up to clear the gang members before he headed home.

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He doesn’t want to bother his partners with this, but Nova is home, and he knows he’ll need her help. Roy is quiet when he gets there just in case the babies are sleeping, wincing as he pulls the armor off carefully and sets it aside. The bastard had gotten the blade straight through a weak spot.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

It’s at that moment Nova finds him, one of the twins- Sophia- cradled in her arms, having just dozed off to sleep. She knows he doesn’t realise she’s there, not until she catches sight of the blood and inhales sharply.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

“I’m going to put Sophia in her crib and grab the first aid kit. I’m not leaving,” is what she settles on saying, turning to the hallway before pausing. For some reason feeling like she needs to repeat that, that she is going to always keep her promise and stay. “I’m not leaving.”

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Nova does exactly what she says she would, taking her youngest daughter to the nursery and putting her to bed in her crib next to her brothers. And she makes sure she’s still sleeping before turning on the nightlight and leaving, quietly shutting the door.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

“Go ahead and say it,” Roy tells her quietly. He knows his wife well enough to guess what she’s probably thinking and can sense she’s upset about it all. “But I stopped a drug trafficking ring tonight. That’s less kids getting high and ruining their lives.”

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

“You do good, what you do helps so many others and makes you happy,” she starts with, “and I don’t want to ask you to stop. I won’t ask that of you. I promised I never would and I never will but at what point do you realise this? You getting hurt? Hurts us as well.”

Nova starts gently cleaning the wound, not giving him time to respond just yet. “I know this is so much of you who are, but it doesn’t just affect you anymore. Lian and such might know vaguely what you do but they’re too young to fully grasp it. Do you know how hard is to explain to her why you’re hurt again?” She ignores how her hands shake.

“The same excuse of you saving those will only work so many times before she gets older- before the twins get older and start asking why you couldn’t be around more.” She knows she could be nicer, gentler. But she’s tired, exhausted.

“Yes you’ve cut back a bit but things still pick up, and you’re tired so often. I know you try but it’s still not enough.” And it’s that part that she knows is going to hurt him. The part she’s been dreading saying but can’t keep in much longer, not when he’s patrolling and she’s up with the twins and then getting Lian for school and while he rests she’s still handling the twins and cleaning and trying to figure out if she’ll even be able to go back to work once the twins are old enough for daycare and-

It hits like a bullet, through and through. Roy’s been shot enough times he knows the feeling well, but he’d never expected it from this direction. She’s pouring her heart out and suddenly he realizes this is how Grayson must feel, stretched thin and inadequate.

“I have skills very few do,” he reminds her quietly, tone giving away how broken he is over this. All of it. Her words, the truth behind them, the fact that it had already weighed on him before she given it a voice. “If you’re capable of helping, and you don’t, and then bad things happen, are you not responsible?”

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

“Wouldn’t you have liked it if Oliver gave you more time to be his son? To have him around as a father and not a hero?” It’s a low blow and she knows it, but her frustrations been building up and she fears it’s the only way she can get him to see her side.

“And what does that make me? I’m more than capable of helping yet don’t. My wings and healing give me an advantage others don’t have, does that mean I’m responsible?” Her words are sharp here, full of hurt and so much more. Clearly something she’s thought of over and over again.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

“I just want you to be more present. For the kids at least.” And it’s like all the fight has drained out of her, just sounding exhausted. Not the entire point she wants to make but the kids come first, even the ones that aren’t hers biologically. She loves them all so much.

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

Nova doesn’t meet his eyes, not as a tear falls from her own. Things had been busy recently. The holidays always brought an onslaught of terror at night so it was becoming more and more regular she’d see her husband while he slept. And she knew that wasn’t his fault, that he’s just getting caught up in it all to keep people safe.

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

He turns his gaze forward again and tells her, “I’d do anything for you, for our family. Family is everything. But…if I quit being Arsenal, it’ll kill a part of me.” Since theyre being honest here, he hopes.

“I promised you I’d never ask that of you, and I won’t. I want to but I know how important that part of your life is to you, how much of yourself it makes up.” She quietly explains, hands steady as she starts the first stitch, needle gliding through skin to see it together.

“I just want you to be here more for the kids, even if it’s just the weekends.” She’ll take anything she can get, she doesn’t care for a break, not if she gets to see their family together. “I can keep my routine with the nights and weeks, but the kids want their Dad on the weekend.”

He doesn’t miss that she isn’t asking for herself, and something breaks inside of him as he realizes she may only be staying with him for the kids. And he deserves that, honestly, he knows he’s been a bad husband.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

Nova’s eyes crease in confusion at she finished the first stitch before her hands freeze, realizing her mistake. What she didn’t say back. She leans forward, resting her forehead against the nape of his neck.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

He turns a bit then, reaching for her face with one of his hands and ignoring the stretch on his shoulder as he does. “You keep doing that. Not prioritizing yourself. Our family should come first. That includes you and Walls and Jaybird. The kids yes, but I need to do better all around.”

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

Nova blinks away more tears, moving to lean into his touch more, not realising how much she had missed it. Not realising how long it had actually been since she got to kiss him or be held by him while he was awake.

“I’m just, tired.” She quietly admits, closing her eyes. Exhaustion is clear on her face, eye bags deep and hair a mess like she hadn’t even been trying to actually look after it. She hasn’t had the time.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

He kisses her until they both need to breathe, lips pulling away to allow it but keeping his face close. Roy takes a couple deep breaths and nods a bit, forehead bumping hers lightly in the process. “I’ll do better,” he promises quietly.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

“Yes ma’am,” he replies, turning to let her tend to the wound. And it all weighs heavy on him—his failure. Grayson makes juggling life look so easy. This is another area in which Roy is inadequate in comparison. He'll carry that long after he fixes the problem, ruminating on it on his bad days.

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

Nova moves to lean against him, needing contact and feeling he needs it too. “I couldn’t stand by and watch, not when the kids need you,” she pauses, tilting her head to meet his eyes. “Not when I need you.”

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

Her legs wrap easily around his waist, a move she’s done so many times she doesn’t even need to think. And she trusts him so easily to not drop her. While he walks, she directs her attention to his neck, biting and kissing the skin there.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

#tw: suggestive #gothams star seeker

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

“Need you,” he tells her, kissing his way down her chest. He wants her, sure, but more than that he needs her. Needs the comfort of how real she feels.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

He makes a pleased noise at her biting, laying her on the bed. Roy’s hands are all over her trying to get her clothes off.

Her hands trails down his bare chest, glad he had removed his armour for her to tend to the wound as it now gives her better access to his skin.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”

“Come here,” he picks her up and encourages her to wrap her legs around him so that he can take them to the bedroom.

closed rp | @gothams-star-seeker

But he already knows he’ll need stitches.

He frowns, looking at the damage.

“Roy.” Her voice quiet as to not wake the babe in her arms, but it’s by no means soft. A harsh edge to just his name leaving her lips but there’s obvious worry in her eyes.

He didn’t startle so much as wince again, which of course hurt and made him frown as he turned to face her. He tried not to do that, but he was in a lot of pain.

“How bad is it?” he asked her quietly.

She takes a breath through her nose to calm herself, trying to keep an even head about all this. Her eyes cataloging every inch she can see, hiding away information to help once her hands are free.

He braces himself for the diagnosis and pauses to glance back at her promise. “Okay,” Roy agrees, nodding. “Must be pretty bad then…”

And he hates to ask her to help with this, especially when she’s been looking after the kids and looks exhausted herself, but he can’t reach it himself like any other wound.

He knows the conversation they're about to have may be a tense one, and frowns as he waits.

Her next stop is to grab the first aid kit, which she’s glad she restocked recently in a stress induced panic after a series of bad nights. So everything is up to date, is good to be used.

She doesn’t say anything as she brings the kitchen back to Roy, shoulders tense as she moves to sit behind him to get better access to the wound. “I can already guess you’ll need stitches.”

”Feels like it,” he agrees, shoulder slumped a bit in pain. He’s been injured before, but the placement of this particular wound stings.

She stays quiet for a moment longer, instead getting out what’s needed to clean the wound before she can properly assess the damage. The time between lets her try to get her thoughts in order.

It’s an argument every mask has made. They're soldiers in a war with no end in sight. The battlefield stretches across time and space and realities…

But he’s always been a mortal among gods too, and Roy knows this.

She inhales softly, the breath shakey and wet as tears form in her eyes but she blinks through them, focusing on cleaning the wound.

That hadn’t been what he’d meant, but she makes a good point he won’t argue with. He just shakes his head a little. If she’s not asking him to quit, what is she asking him?

Or is she done asking.

His shoulder shifts a bit at the pain, and Roy frowns. “I don’t know who I am without this.”

Nova stays quiet, blinking through tears as she finishes cleaning the wound and moves onto getting things to stitch it shut. A routine that a wife shouldn’t be familiar with.

“And for you,” he says the quiet part out loud. “You deserve better.” It’s not a question either, they both know it’s true in this moment.

Roy turns as much as he can while she’s tending to the gash, wanting to see her. “I do love you. With everything I am, I love you.”

But while she knows his words are true, the insecure, irrational part of her mind spits out he’s lying. She chooses to ignore it.

“I’m going to start stitching now, okay?”

She doesn’t reply to it the way he’d been hoping, but Roy doesn't comment on that.

“You didn’t say it back,” he whispers, looking at the floor and wincing a bit at the pull of the needle.

“I do love you, Roy. More than anything. But the kids come first.” They come before her needs, before her love.

And it hurts to admit he’s not enough when he’s already trying what he thought was his best. But he’ll do better, he’s determined now.

Roy doesn't want to lose her.

“I’m sorry,” he tells her, leaning in to kiss her. And he kisses her like he’s missed her too, something he hadn’t realized until now.

She leans into the kiss like one would lean into warmth. And she wants to get lost in this feeling that he makes her feel but she has to finish the stitches.

She swallows at the promise, meeting his gaze easily. “I know you will, but don’t promise it just in case.”

“If it makes you feel better,” he concedes quietly.

“It does, thank you.” She presses a kiss to his lips before pulling away, attention turning back to the wound. “Now face forward while I finish this.”

A smile easily tugs at her lips even with the weight still heavy in her stomach like a bag of rocks. Nova chooses to ignore it, focusing on finishing tending to the wound.

“There we go.” She finally says once she finishes stitching the wound and covering it with a dress to keep it clean.

He turns to face her then so that she can see the seriousness in his eyes as he reaches for her hand. “Thank you.”

She squeezes his hand back, a small tired smile on her face. “I’ll always help you.”

“For that yes, but also for calling me out. I’m an addict. I replaced it with work,” Roy acknowledges.

He brings a hand up to cradle her face, leaning forward to kiss her gently. Nova doesnt admit her own wants and needs a lot, so he isn’t taking it for granted now that she has.

She leans into the kiss, smiling against his lips. She had missed so much, even when he’s sleeping in the bedroom while she does things around the house, she just misses him so much.

Roy deepened the kiss to show her how much he cared, a man of actions not just words.

Nova can’t help but melt further against him, making a soft noise that’s easily muffled as he deepens the kiss.

Suddenly the ache in his shoulder doesn't matter. Roy moves his kisses to her throat and asks, “Kids are all asleep?”

The scars on her skin stand out so much when she tilts her head back for him, and Nova hums in confirmation. “They’re all down for the night.”