It was the annual League check in, a big meeting they had once a fiscal year at the Hall of Justice to check in on everyone’s progress and how things were going after major events that happened that year. Usually Kyle didn’t like League meetings, but having his friends who weren’t 10+ years older than him around for this meeting always meant that the meeting wouldn’t be boring.
Kyle was standing near Hal’s seat with the rest of the Lanterns (besides Guy who was sitting down on the floor next to Hal) minus Kelli who was with Titans West. The Titans and Young Justice were also in attendance and standing with one another, and the people who didn’t have a team but were still in the League database stood behind the League member they correspond to or near a friend.
“- a painting that went missing in -xx23” Bruce was saying.
“What does a painting that went missing 40 years ago have to do with our case?” Gar asked. Rachel side eyed him and Kyle almost laughed at the severity of it.
“So, that's not how math works,” Vic pointed out and Gar rolled his eyes.
“It’s close enough,” Gar argued. Rachel’s side eye continued.
“No it’s not? It’s 24 years, you're off by like 16 years” Jaime pointed out. Tim shook his head.
“No it’s not,” Tim said and Kyle was confused.
“Yes it is? I was born that year and I’m 24” Kyle said. Tim started to analyze him and Kyle was unsettled. He wasn’t that dumb, damn Tim, but Kon was also looking at him weird.
“So I know how math works,” Wally said slowly, “and yours is off. Do you not know what year you were born”?
Hal reached back and tapped Kyle on his knee, a sign to be quiet. But Kyle wasn’t going to start another brawl with Wally in the Hall of Justice or anything, and Bruce (who was one of the few people that kind of cared about keeping the meeting on track) seemed interested, so Kyle didn’t get what Hal was so worried about.
“I know what year I was born Wally, I’m not stupid” Kyle argued. Hal tapped his knee again.
“You clearly are. You weren’t born in -xx23” Wally said. Next to him, Donna, Roy and Garth looked amused but Dick looked worried. Kyle didn’t get it. He and Wally talked like this all the time. Hal being worried about his nephew getting into a fight, okay sure, but Dick knew Kyle and Wally talked to each other like this.
“Wally, I know what year I was born. It’s basic information that I use all the time” Kyle said gently in order to hopefully placate Hal and Dick. It didn’t work, as Dick still looked worried and Hal tapped his knee again.
“You were born in August” Wally said slowly, as if Kyle was stupid or a child, and that kinda pissed Kyle off.
“Yeah” Kyle said in the same condescending tone. “August 20th, -xx23. I just turned 24”.
Hal tapped him again and Guy slapped Hal’s away.
“Let him talk Hal, he’s a big boy,” Guy said quietly. His laugh and tone of excitement made Kyle realize something was wrong.
“That’s impossible. That was the year I was born and I was born in January while you were born in August so you would be a grade behind me instead of being in the same grade as me. Meaning you would have just turned-” Wally paused, eyes widening in horror when he saw Kyle had gone rigid, realizing his mistake. “Wait a fucking second, have you been lying about your age”?
Kyle opened his mouth and then closed it. He was stupid after all. He had been so used to saying he was a year older than he was, that he hadn’t realized his birth year didn’t match. He has been lying about his age for so long that he completely forgot he lied about his age in general. Everyone was looking at him now.
“I tried to warn you,” Hal said, looking up at Kyle in amusement.
“How old are you really?” Wally asked desperately.
“Older or younger?” Roy joined in as Donna looked panicked.
“Why would you lie about your age and what year you were born, but not make sure that they worked together?” Bart asked, his hand raised. Next to him, Kon was looking between Kyle and Wally like one would a fucking tennis match.
“I didn’t lie about the year. Just now” Kyle said weakly and Wally bent over, hands on his knees as if he needed to catch his breath.
“Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait” Wally cried out before looking back up at Kyle. “You’re a year younger than me?”?
“No! I mean, we’re the same age until your birthday in January?” Kyle offered and Donna relaxed.
“NO-”!
Guy burst out laughing at the same time as Kon. Guy had accidentally found out a bit after Hal, and Kon didn’t know until now and was just a brat. Connor was whispering something to Kelli who had this look on her face that made Kyle nervous.
Well, more nervous.
“I told you,” Hal said again. “Play stupid games”?
“Win stupid prizes” Kyle said sadly, hanging his head in defeat.
“Wait a second, you were 20 when you became a Lantern” John asked and Kyle nodded. “Kyle, we went out drinking with you plenty of times before August -xxx2”.
“Yeah” Barry said, wide eyes with realization. “We did too”!
Uh oh.
“Who cares about that!” Wally said. “He was 20 when he joined the League! You guys said you have to be 21”!
Oh yeah, Wally hadn’t been old enough to join the League when he first became Flash, having still been 20. He was never officially a part of the League team since Barry “came back to life” before he turned 21, but Kyle had said he was 21, so he was an official Justice League team member. And Wally wasn’t.
It was a beautiful day.
“Revoke his membership” Roy joked.
“I agree!” Wally said seriously, looking like he was losing his mind. “I’m older than you? You graduated university before me”?
Maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing.
“You have a fake id,” John said looking very amused. Kyle nodded. “Let me see it”.
Oh wait no, this actually sucked.
Kyle pulled it out and handed it over, and the other Lanterns and Barry and Ollie (who sat on either side of Hal) looked at it.
“I mean- it looks legit” Simon offered and Jess laughed, not even bothering to cover her mouth with her hand as she elbowed a smirking Jo lightly..
“I don’t use it anymore” Kyle said and Guy slung an arm around Kyle.
“I’m gonna make fun of you for this for the rest of your life” Guy laughed, despite the fact that he already knew. Kyle rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, I saw that one coming”.
“And you knew about this,” John said to Hal. At least if Kyle was going down, Hal was going down with him.
“Yeah, but he stopped after I found out. That’s why we didn’t go bar hopping as a group for like, four months” Hal said. John looked like he was trying not to laugh and Kyle knew he was done for. He was getting bullied for the next month at least. He hated them all. “What?“
“Hal. He still went drinking, just when you weren’t there” John said. Hal paused before doing a slow turn in his chair, looking offended.
Kyle knew Hal was more offended that Kyle was hiding it from him than him actually doing it. Oh also there was the reason Hal recommended Kyle didn’t drink for a bit, but Kyle didn’t want to think about that.
“Would you believe me if I said it was an accident?” Kyle asked sheepishly. Wally was leaning on a laughing Garth, wailing at the unfairness of the world and something about Kyle graduating University way before him, but Kyle couldn’t even enjoy it.
It had quite possibly been the worst year of the Titans lives, but they would bounce back. They just had to complete this case and they could prove to the League (and each other) that they were fine.
Kyle would rather not work with the Titans again, not after what happened, but he’s so tired of being alone. What the worse that could happen from one case?
Or
The Titans try moving on after tragedy and show the League that they aren’t the same kid heroes they were when they started, and Kyle tries to find his place on Earth amongst heroes after the Sinestro Corps War. He’s not the only Green Lantern anymore.
Sequel to Fear and What Follows, but you don’t have to read that to read this fic.
-
“I- just remember that I’m so sorry and I didn’t mean it,” Wally said, lowering his head in defeat. A warm hand gripped his and gave it a firm squeeze.
“I’ll remember. And whatever it is, it’s gonna be okay” Uncle Hal said and Wally nodded, not able to look at him.
Would he lose Uncle Hal again?
Read on Ao3
Chapter Notes
And finally we have reached! The Titans A v Torchie incident. I hope I didn’t hype this up and then you guys are disapointed
Some Connor and Roy being siblings for you all
Rip Titans West in the future when YJ comes into the picture
Please note that Kyle did catch Dick by surprise. No one expected Kyle to get so upset about this to the point of laying hands on another person cz thats just not like him
I hope this came across well, but this is not bashing wally or making him look bad what so ever. In his mind, he’s protecting his friends. None of them knew that Major Force had killed Alex, Kyle didn’t tell anyone but Guy and Dinah. This wasn’t anyones fault. I tried to make the argument like, you could see it from both sides. But of course we as the reader lean more towards Kyle because its in his point of view
Dick admonishes Wally bc he feels like theres smth more to it. But thats because he’s Dick
Kara and Connor didn’t hear a word of this. Just so you know
Originally Tim was supposed to be with Dick and Roy and Barry in Wally’s room, but I had to cut him out because this chapter was already extremely long without it
The other lanterns got infected because they were holding him down since he was moving too much
Would like to say again, with the Wally and Kyle fighting there is a line. Useing Parallax is 100% crossing it in Wally’s eyes
more time did pass while Wally was in his head btw
Kyle’s thoughts about the injury to his hand affecting his art ability comes from Ghostt’s reaction to when I told her about Kyle’s injuries. Ty Ghosttie if u end up reading this lol
yep, Guy held his hand throughout it. So what?
Kyle’s throat hurting in FAWF and in this chapter because are both because he had been screaming. Just in case you didn’t know
Originally, there was gonna be no consequence to Hal telling Wally and Roy about Kyllax, then I realized- wait maybe he sholuldn’t have told them. Now we are at the consequences
John sending Hal to the league meeting as time out lol
Guy staying with kyle for support. Kyle is injured and clearly not doing well mentally after what Psimon did, so ofc hes gonna stay by his sector partner. No, no one asked the League Guy just does what he wants
the brothers and sector partners EVER
titans West plus Tim didn’t try to move in on Savage and Psimon because it was a rescue mission and their first priority was getting Garth Kyle and Wally out
About Kyle’s face, no one who didn’t already know his identity saw it. If there was no reason they had to look, they were gonna respect that his identity was a secret, the same way they would do for Bruce
Simon volunteered to go oversee what John was doing with Titans A. Like, John mentioned it and Simon was the first to volunteer. needed more Simon and Kyle moments hehheheh
From “Just Close Your Eyes, You’ll Be Alright” or the fic where Kon dies.
Kon closed his eyes and rested his head on Cissie’s chest, letting his hand drop onto his chest.
He didn’t move again.
Clark started to sob and Cissie wailed as Cassie finally let Tim go, going limp on him as she cried. Cissie rocked Kon back and forth as she screamed. She begged him for forgiveness that Tim knew she would never earn, and he would remind her of that for the rest of her life.
Kon was dead.
Kon, who just recently graduated high school. They had planned to celebrate that weekend. Kon, just three weeks shy of his 18th Birthday. Kon, who barely got to experience life. They only had him for four years. No, not even four years.
Tim remembers the night of his 15th birthday when Kon took him flying for the first time over Metropolis. He remembered Kon’s first time at the mall, and how much fun they had getting him civilian clothes. Tim remembered their first YJ sleep over, and how they met Reddy for the first time. Tim remembered dancing with Kon at Cassie and Cissie’s homecoming dance. He remembered Kon’s first baseball game, his first soccer game, how excited he was when he started getting the hang of the Kryptonian language and its culture, how he smiled, how he laughed, how-
There were fires and debris and screaming around Tim. He could feel it with all his senses. People cried out in pain, in fear, for their loved ones. But Tim didn’t care.
The entirety of Metropolis could burn. Tim just wanted Kon.
“The results have arrived. He appears to have a severe allergy to strawberries” Alfred read before handing Tim the papers, but Tim didn’t take them.
“Strawberries? But we weren’t-“ Cassie stopped, eyes widening in realization as Tim clamored to his feet, almost falling over as he did.
“My milkshake,” Tim said.
Or Kon goes into anaphylactic shock and Tim blames himself
It had quite possibly been the worst year of the Titans lives, but they would bounce back. They just had to complete this case and they could prove to the League (and each other) that they were fine.
Kyle would rather not work with the Titans again, not after what happened, but he’s so tired of being alone. What the worse that could happen from one case?
Or
The Titans try moving on after tragedy and show the League that they aren’t the same kid heroes they were when they started, and Kyle tries to find his place on Earth amongst heroes after the Sinestro Corps War. He’s not the only Green Lantern anymore.
Sequel to Fear and What Follows, but you don’t have to read that to read this fic.
-
They went to the door of Roy’s room and Wally used his fingers to count down from three before zipping out of the room, through the kitchen and behind the intruder. Wally was about to hit him when-
“Uncle Hal?” Wally and Roy said at the same time and Uncle Hal jumped out of his skin.
Read on Ao3
Chapter Notes
- For the flash back, Fab 5 teen Titans was founded late May that year, so they’ve been a team for about 5 months in the flash back
- Their ages in the flashback! Donna is 14, Dick is 13, Wally is 12, Garth is 11, and Roy is 10
- The silly arrows thing was to show that they were still young and learning. They are kids! Its okay! also used to show that Roy is the youngest and newest member of the group since he joined a couple weeks after they started the group. And the other four have been super heroing a bit longer than Roy (Dick doing it the longest)
- Whenever they have sleepovers not at Titans Tower, Garth sleeps in the bathtub. Dw he’s chill with it, and when they were younger the adults would only be skeptical the first few times
- I love the Hal Barry and Ollie being eachothers families so much like, you will see throughout this that Wally, Roy, and Connor all refer to Hal as Uncle Hal. And of course to the three of them Barry is also Uncle Barry, and to Wally, Ollie used to be Uncle Ollie.
- The whole thing that hppened between Ollie and Roy broke up the Ollie Hal and Barry trio for a couple of years, but they became friends again after Parallax. But the point is, Hal and Barry are looking out for their nephew!!!!
- For my Fear and What Follows readers! You should recognize this part from chapter 4!!!
- Kyle and his several nicknames
- Gis? Dangling the Titans A v Torchie incident infront of you guys? Nooooooo I would never-
- Ghostt hc’s that Wally is really good at cooking and took an interest in it when he was younger after he got his powers since he needed to eat more. I also hc that he can’t bake for his life. Ty Ghosttie!!
- Lantern nicknames!!
- John being Problem Child because he was the youngest at the time and Hal thought he was a problem when he first joined
- Guy being One-Hit is a double thing. Hal claims to non lanterns that its because Guy can take people out in one hit but John and Hal like to tease him about being knocked out by batman of all people in one hit. They go to war with anyone else who dares mention it, but they tease Guy about it
- Simon is Vroom because he stole Cars
- Jess is braincell bc Hal believes shes the only one of them with a braincell.
- And Hal being Captain Crybaby is a play on his rank in the air force and the thing that happened with Barry. That i wrote out if anyone is interested-
- Making Dick an EMT was something I got from a friend! Don’t remember which friend, but I wanna say Ghostt again?
- Yep the current batfam (Bruce, Dick, Tim, Babs, Cass) have yet to reveal their identities to any of the League or people within the Leagues database. And recent events made it less likly
- Connor and Kyle friendship :D Always
- Dick goes by Bird because hes no longer Robin but still hasn’t shared his identity. It’s also a bit of a nod to my lovly amazing friend, love, and Beta reader Birdie. Ily my Birdie!!!
- Absolutely love Dick and Kori they are endgame in my au guys
- Also yes, she doesn’t know hes secret Identity but doesnt really care. He’s never given her a reason not to trust him
- That ending line had my friends yelling at me hehehhe
Next time on Of Fear and Falling Apart!
“I didn’t mean to hurt you- especially with what I said” Wally continued and Kyle couldn’t help but cut him off.
“Then why did you say it?” Kyle asked. Wally stared at him, surprised, but didn’t say anything. Roy was looking between them with a blank face. Kyle nodded.
From one of the Whumptober 2024 prompts I did, Day 6
The first person Roy made eye contact with was Jason Todd. He was sitting in a chair on the other side of the room, right across from Roy’s bed. He was wearing a hat, probably to cover up the white part of his hair, and looked relieved when he made eye contact with Roy.
“Oh you’re awake” Dick said suddenly from his left, causing Roy to look at him lazily. He was sitting in a chair and holding Roy’s hand. Standing behind him was Ollie.
Roy couldn’t look away from Ollie, suddenly 15 years old again when Ollie found his stash. He shouldn’t care what Ollie thought anymore, he was an adult now. He didn’t need Ollie.
But then what was he waiting for?
Ollie smiled softly at him, and Roy was taken aback. Dick squeezed his hand and Roy automatically squeezed back.
“I’m not mad Roy” Ollie said softly. “No one is mad at you”.
