In the Harpers' Star City apartment, Lian is on reclining on the living room couch, scrolling on her phone. Roy pokes his head out from the kitchen.
Roy to Lian: Hey, kiddo! I'm making tortillas. Wanna learn how to make them?
Lian looks up from her phone, pockets it, and gets up.
In the kitchen, Roy and Lian are standing over a mound of rough and sticky-looking dough with scattered streaks of flour.
Roy, kneading the dough: You got to work it to the point where the dough isn't stuck on your hands.
Lian takes over kneading. The dough slowly but surely becomes less sticky in her hands.
Roy: There you go! You got it!
Lian smiles as she gets a good rhythm going.
Roy: Hey, kiddo, um, the last month was pretty nuts.
Lian: I dunno, it feels like it's been pretty much the same weird crap for as long as I can remember.
Roy, sighs: I never wanted anything of this for you.
Lian, incredulous as she stops kneading: Dad, seriously?
Roy: It's not that I don't trust you. You came in clutch when things got rough.
Lian, smirks: Saved your butt a million times you mean.
Roy, annoyed: Yeah. (sighs) Long time ago, when Ollie told me that Mia became the new Speedy, I was against it. Not that she wasn't capable, she'd proved herself time and time again. I had said that being a vigilante at 15 was insane with how dangerous things were at that point, but honestly?
Roy sits down and runs his fingers through his hair.
Roy: It was always dangerous. The first time all of us came together was because an interdimensional monster was controlling our mentors and trying to kill us! Being with the Titans will still be the best time of my life, but after you came home with me, I started thinking about what I would do when you got to that age where you wanted to follow in my footsteps and it scared me, thinking about all the things that happened to me and if it happened to you.
(beat)
Lian: Was Mom giving you crap about what happened in Star City?
Roy: Not lately. What I'm trying to say is Michael- Mr. Terrific- he called me and Donna about reports of kids developing powers. Something about exposure to Alpha and Omega energy-
Lian: And these kids are disappearing like almost immediately after getting these powers?
Roy: Yeeeah?
Lian: And you asking me to join the Teen Titans and find them?
Roy: Yeah.
Lian: Even after I robbed the Watchtower?
Roy: The Justice League is letting supervillains join. If helping your mom and Barb rob the Justice League is the worst thing you'll ever do, then maybe I haven't completely failed as a dad. So, is that what you would like to do? You'll have to work with PJ.
Lian: Yeah, I can work with PJ.
Roy: Okay, but there's one thing I would like you to do for me.
Lian: Yeah?
Roy: I want you to check in with me every night you and PJ are out there.
Lian: 'Kay, Dad.
Roy, reaching for her hand: Lian, please. I know you are not five anymore and you've saved my butt a million times since last month, but I'm still gonna worry about you, especially if you end up going somewhere I can't follow. Please.
Lian, clasping his hand: I promise. Just don't make me worry. Seriously, why'd you think hanging out on the edge of the hospital roof was not going to make me have a heart attack?!
Roy: Okay, I promise I will try not to pointlessly endanger myself if you promise to do the same.
Lian: Okay. I promise.
Roy: Okay.
(beat)
Lian: You got flour in your hair.
Roy: Yeah. Let's finish up the tortillas. (gets up and starts rolling little balls of dough) So how long have you've known about the kids?
Lian, rolling dough: A while. I've been following reports on my phone. Just keeping eye on things. I could text you and Donna some links.
Roy: Thanks.
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