To Raise a Child, chapter 2

Oliver

Ok, maybe in the ship I thought the kids were acting weird, but now at the ice cream store I was totally sure.

First of all, they always ask a lot of questions in the ship (or the car if we're on earth), they like to talk a lot and they always ask for my cell phone to take turns playing the games… 

But now they didn't make a single sound.

Even now at the ice cream store, they wouldn't even look at me in the eye.

Those kids were acting all so freaking weird… it couldn't be because of the smacks I gave Roy, could it? I mean, it's no big deal... Roy wasn't acting like them. Oddly, he was the only one acting somewhat normal.

"Daddy" I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice the redheaded boy walking over to us at the "adult's table" and trying to wrap his little arms around me… It was kind of cute and funny because he was still really small and couldn't completely encircle me.

"What's up, kiddo?" I lifted him to sit in my lap, where he wriggled a bit but didn't do anything else to make me feel guilty.

"I wanna go home... It's boring in here, no one's talking"

"What?" I tried to appear surprised, those kids were really silent" How come?"

Roy rolled his eyes, but leaned his side on my chest.

"I don't know, they are all acting so weird…" he sighed" We broke a robot…" A ship, Roy, a damn ship,"... Big deal, it's not to be like that. Not even your friends are talking, and Wally's uncle never shuts up"

Now that he mentioned it, it was completely true! I had been so distracted with the children's weird attitude that I hadn't noticed the guys were really silent too.

End of Oliver's POV

"I think you may be overthinking it, kiddo" was Oliver's answer" Maybe the other kids are tired, you know, you all woke up really early"

"But…" Roy didn't look convinced at all.

"Why don't you go get a cookie or another ice cream" he got ten dollars out of his pocket and gave it to the kid, who instantly forgot about his friends' behavior. He wasn't really interested with the money, but he sure was with the idea of more ice cream. Oliver never let him eat that much junk food.

"Sure!" he jumped out of the man's lap to go get that ice cream.

Once the kid was gone, Oliver looked back at the other League mentors.

"You know what? My boy's right, you're all acting really weird... Is it because of the destroyed ship? I already told you I'll pay for it"

"No, it's because of the way you're acting towards your kid," Hal stated bluntly.

The other members turned to look at the Green Lantern in surprise. Barry immediately cleared his throat and softly replied, "Ollie, we're a little worried about Roy."

Now, Oliver was completely in blank.

"Ok, now I'm totally lost... What do you mean?" he was not acting different towards Roy and he didn't get why they should be "worried".

Bruce stated, "The boy's hygiene as well as his appetite is questionable."

Clark added, "We're just worried about him, Ollie. Is everything alright at home? Perhaps Roy could stay with Dinah for a while if there's something going on."

"Woah, stop it there" stay with Dinah? What the hell..." So, the kid didn't take a shower today, big deal, a lot of kids doesn't like to shower. And... Are you implying I don't buy him food or what?" now he couldn't believe what they were saying" Everything's fine "at home"" he imitated Clark" We are just tired, we moved out of the Manor last week" it was way more tiring keeping track of the boy without the help at the Manor... well, they were more like nannys to Roy than help, but whatever.

"I would hope for your sake that nothing's wrong, Oliver. Next time we see him, he'd better have gained weight and he will have been cleaned," Batman growled before standing.

Clark sighed before adding, "I have to agree with Bruce on this one, Ollie. You'd better have it together next week."

Oliver stood up as well.

"Fuck you all, it's none of your business what my son does or does not" who did they think they were?" Roy, we are going home!"

"But you said..."

"Shut it, Roy! We'll get the damn ice cream somewhere else!"

Roy stuck out his lip before waving goodbye to his friends. He hated when his dad got like this.

"Do we have to?" he asked

"Yes, we do" ughhhh" Come on, it's time to go! We already ate too much fucking ice cream anyways..."

"You said a bad word!" Kyle yelled, pointing his finger at Oliver.

Oliver rolled his eyes. Seriously?

"Yeah, it slipped... Roy, come on!"

"Oliver, there is no need to react like this" Arthur tried to be reasonable.

"Then how? You all pretend to tell me how to be the father of the year? Don't make me laugh..." he went and took the kid's hand" Some friends you are"

Oliver dragged Roy away. The poor kid merely waved goodbye to his friends. The other children merely looked up to their own guardians in question.

"That didn't go very well" not that Barry wanted to be obvious" I knew he was not going to be happy about this, but... I didn't think he would react like this either"

"It's Oliver we are talking about... What did you think?" Hal wasn't all that happy either.

"Well, you two seemed to be pretty good friends" was Clark's response.

"We are, but..."

"It's complicated," Hal finished before scooping Kyle up. "You ready to go home?"

"We were gonna go to the park"

"Yeah, who said so?" he didn't remember promising that to the kid.

"Roy's dad always take us after getting ice cream"

"Right, where the fuck is Ollie?" every member of the League turned to look at Jason.

"Language!" Bruce snapped.

Jason rolled his eyes but muttered an apology.

"What about the park, Dad?" Dick asked.

"Well..." Ollie always took them because he had a clear agenda on Saturdays, "Maybe other day we can invite them to play at home"

"Nooooo, Ollie always takes us" Jason kept on whinning.

"It's no fun without Roy" now it was Kyle's turn to complain

"Can we invite him?" Kon asked his dad.

"Not today. We'll go some other time, Kon," Clark replied.

All the other adults backed out too. No park for that day.

"This sucks" Jason again.

"Language, Jason!"

"What? Ollie says that "sucks" means that it's boring"

"Well, it doesn't... And stop saying it"

"This day sucks so far" was Kaldur's reply.

"I'm sure it will be better next time," Barry replied before taking Wally's hand. "Come on, Kiddo, let's head home. I'm sure your aunt has something amazing for dinner."

Wally pouted but didn't argue. He was somewhat disappointed, all of them were waiting for the park.