My JL Drabbles

MY JL DRABBLES

Disclaimer: The characters Batman, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Superman & Flash and their respective secret identities are all owned by DC Comics. This story is intended for my own pleasure and is not for profit. It has been posted to this site for others to read. Places and characters not own by DC Comics are my own creation. This story is based on characters from Justice League: The Animated Series.

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DRABBLE - HOTDOG by BILLA1

This is the first one I ever wrote. These are called "drabbles" and they're supposed to be exactly one hundred words in length.

A/N: Inspired by the drabbles of Nancy Brown.

HOTDOG

"John, how can you eat that?"

"What? There's nothing wrong with this?"

"Do you know what's in that?"

"I don't care what's in it as long as it tastes good."

"Well, I won't eat it because I know what's in it."

"There's nothing wrong with this? It's made from cows and pigs."

"No. It's made from waste pieces of cows and pigs. There's no butcher's chart that says cut here for a 'Hotdog.'"

"Okay, Shayera, thanks for sharing and you don't have to have any of this. So, what do you want to eat?"

"Something new I discovered called Haggis."

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DRABBLE - SCREAM by BILLA1

This is not the first one I've written but just wanted to share. These are called "drabbles" and they're supposed to be exactly one hundred words in length.

A/N: Takes place the day after the adventure of "Hearts and Minds" concludes. In that adventure John & Shayera have a violent encounter with Despero.

Scream

Her scream.

I can't get the sound of her scream out of my head.

She says she's okay. That she's all right now.

But I don't know that I am.

She's been hurt before. She's been knocked down and out.

But I've never heard her make any sounds like that before.

A woman can control a man by the sounds she makes.

A laugh.

A groan at a bad joke or a moan of pleasure.

But I've never heard her make those sounds before. I've never heard her scream like that.

And I hope to God I never will again.

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DRABBLE - THE SHOVEL by BILLA1

THE SHOVEL

Men never talk to each other. They only shovel words at one another. Each shovel load translating into "I am better than you."

"I'm doing good," one says.

"I'm doing better," the masked one replies.

"I'm dating a fox, giving the other one space," the first one answers. He adds that he is happy.

"I don't have time to pursue a relationship," the masked man counters. "She is a remarkable woman, a valued friend and a respected colleague but I'm busy."

It's only when she puts her hand on his shoulder does his shovel become too heavy to lift again.

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DRABBLE - SPIRIT VOICES by BILLA1

Spirit Voices

The helmeted young man looked despondent as he mentally prepared himself for the fight of his life. He recalled the guidance his Dad provided to him while he was growing up.

"Be your own man."

"Never assume."

"There's always another way."

He heard his Dad say these things to him throughout his life. But he'd never put the significance of the words altogether, or truly appreciated their meaning, until he felt his father's hand on his shoulder as his Dad now added, "Plant your feet."

Suddenly, he understood that his father had prepared him for this moment his entire life.

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DRABBLE - VIVE LE ROI! by BILLA1

Vive Le Roi!

Cafeteria hot meal service had stopped hours ago. Only the vending machines provided food and drink at this hour. He put his money in the drink machine and punched the button for the bottled tea "made from the finest stuff on Earth." He opened the bottle and looked at the inside of the cap for its "useless fact."

His jaw dropped, his eyes widened, as he read the cap and recalled a pillow talk conversation he had with her years earlier and her answer of "Don't need one."

Now he knew why.

The cap said, "Egg layers don't have navels."

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A/N: Inspired by Nancy Brown's Vivat.

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DRABBLE - FORTITUDE by BILLA1

(SPOILER for "The Cat and the Canary")

FORTITUDE

"Think we can take them?"

Dinah's answer surprised him.

It wasn't what she said but how she said it. There was an unmistakable quiver in her voice that conveyed her anxiety.

All of the heroes in this business knew, one day you'll meet someone who will violently remind you that you are human and that humans die. One day you'll meet the piper who will only accept your life as payment.

Ollie now knew what she knew - what she realized.

In her voice, he heard nervous acceptance that she thought this was her day to pay as she answered,

"No."

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A/N: This is the first piece I've ever written that didn't include one of the original seven. This was based on a preview clip on Cartoon Network.

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DRABBLE - PLAYING CARDS by BILLA1

PLAYING CARDS

"How many cards?"

"One," answered Green Arrow.

Lantern sighed and lowered his head. "Two, I guess"

"Two? You're a real gambler, huh?"

Superman answered, "Two."

"Two?" the Flash smiled.

"I said two," Superman replied firmly.

Batman started counting on his fingers and finally said, "I need four."

Everyone laughed.

"I have an image to maintain," Batman said defensively.

"And you, Flash?"

"Two boxes."

J'onn rolled his eyes as he handed Wally two boxes of cards.

"Anyone need flowers or candy?"

Arrow turned to Lantern and said, "Nice way to handle Valentine's Day."

"Wait till you see how we handle Christmas."

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DRABBLE - THE GLASS CEILING by BILLA1

THE GLASS CEILING

There are seven chairs.

She leans back in the one they tell her is now hers. Maybe things will be as they were before the invasion she hopes.

She leans forward on the table to show she's interested in what's being said. She leans back and groans with the rest when Batman says he has the Question looking into matters.

Yes, she is a member of the team again.

She's invited to all the staff meetings.

It's just like old times.

Only later will she discover that there is an executive board with six members... and she is not invited.

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DRABBLE - THE ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM by BILLA1

The Elephants in the Room

"Do you still think about him?"

"Sometimes. But not as often as I used to - not since you," she answered thoughtfully. "Do you still think about her?"

"Sometimes. But not as often as I used to - not since you," he parroted. "Miss Rebound, say hello to Mister Rebound."

"Not funny," she frowned.

"I know," he sighed. "But if Ben Turner called you now, you wouldn't stay here long enough to say 'goodbye.'"

Mari hung her head in silence.

John lifted her head with his fingertips, "We have this moment. Let's ignore the elephants."

She leaned over and kissed him. "Let's."

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A/N: Inspired by CRHBlack's Random Musings.

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DRABBLE - FEAR OF FLYING by BILLA1

FEAR OF FLYING

He'd suggested the picnic. Mari happily agreed and packed a lavish lunch. He picked the spot to eat. It was a favorite spot he knew well. With the cityscape in the distance and the river below, the two sat on the grass enjoying lunch and each other's company.

Later, as he lay stretched out on the warm grass, looking up into the bright sky with his head in her lap, she smiled and said, "A penny for your thoughts."

"Just watching the birds fly," he answered softly. "Fascinated by their grace."

Suddenly, Mari felt she'd overpaid for her new knowledge.

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DRABBLE - BEDTIME STORY by BILLA1

BEDTIME STORY

"Is he asleep yet?" she asked softly.

"Yes. Finally," he answered. "But he wouldn't go to sleep until I told him the story."

"You know it's his favorite one and he only wants to hear it from you."

"I know. I like it too. Who wouldn't want to hear about the handsome green knight and the beautiful winged lady who saved the knight's home?"

He added as he got into the bed. "Or how they found each other again after being separated."

"So does the story have a happy ending?"

He held her close and whispered, "You know it does."

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DRABBLE - ROUGH BEGINNINGS by BILLA1

(SPOILER for "Task Force X")

ROUGH BEGINNINGS

"What's her chances, doc?"

"Not good, Captain Atom. She's badly burned."

He paused the way doctors do when they hold little hope. "But she wouldn't be here at all if you hadn't absorbed so much of the blast."

Nate looked at the moaning, heavily bandaged woman remembering her face before the explosion. No, she wasn't very ladylike. But no one deserved what she will go through in the coming weeks and months.

"Are you coming?" the doctor asked as he turned to leave.

Nate sat down in the chair next to her bed.

"No," he said softly, "I'll stay awhile."

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DRABBLE - TWINS by BILLA1

(Spoiler for The Balance - Sort of)

TWINS

"You think you're perfect."

"No, I don't. You betrayed us. You betrayed me."

"But I didn't know. You stole what you have to be here now."

"I needed it. But I don't need your help."

"Yes you do. And I don't need your forgiveness."

"Yes you do. I'll do whatever it takes to protect what's important to me."

"Me too. If you have the lead I'll back your play."

"Same here. How could Flash have ever thought we were alike?"

"I don't know," Justice Lord Hawkgirl said sadly.

"I miss him," Lord Diana sighed. "But he was wrong, wasn't he?"

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DRABBLE - EPITAPH by BILLA1

(SPOILER for "Hunter's Moon")

Epitaph

Dul watched the ship leave.

It was her ship, silhouetted against the bright moons, which provided escape and freedom to the traitor.

She'd failed.

She had failed Hro and she had failed to avenge her people.

The traitor had managed to escape punishment - to escape Thanagarian justice.

Dul hoped that if there was order in the universe, the traitor would never have a happy moment during the remainder of her miserable life.

Parren Dul placed the laser pistol under her chin and before squeezing the trigger, muttered a last curse, "May the good you do, traitor, do you no good."

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DRABBLE - Annual Report by BILLA1

(Spoiler for The Doomsday Sanction)

Annual Report

The lights on the stage were bright and very hot. It was the annual stockholder's meeting. The reading of the financial report had gone well. Most of the stockholders were pleased with the company's performance and the CEO's promise of bigger and better things to come.

"Are there any other questions before we adjourn," asked Mister Fox.

A large woman stepped to the microphone and smiled, "My name is Mrs. Waller and I own one share of stock. Can someone tell me why we are spending so much in R&D for technologies already patented by the competition?"

The CEO frowned.

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DRABBLE - THE FIB! by BILLA1

Spoiler for Kid Stuff and The Once and Future Thing

The Fib

Terry raised his head from the now still lips that a moment before whispered last words. The muffled sobs of Barbara, as she was comforted by Sam, were the only sounds in the room. The old man who had cheated death in his youth had finally succumbed to its permanent embrace. In these final moments, he'd been surrounded by those who loved him most and to the end understood him least.

"What'd he say," Sam asked as he held his silvered haired bride.

Terry sniffled. "He said to tell Diana he lied. It was enjoyable to be a kid again."

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Kismet

She sipped her iced mocha, relishing the taste of the whipped cream, then "dog-eared" the page of the novel she was reading. This was a bad story being poorly told. Even so, she would read to the bitter end, hoping against hope that somehow the plucky heroine would win at the end of the day, and manage to avoid the fate of a Juliet or Anna or Ophelia or Desdemona. She suddenly flipped to the last page and quickly scanned it. Her sigh of disappointment was loud and deep as she started reading again picking up from the folded page.

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DRABBLE - ADVANCE SANCTIONS by BILLA1

SPOILERS for Task Force X

Advance Sanctions

Years earlier, he'd paid for his failure. Overpaid.

Of the seven, only he'd been held prisoner by a government - for national security reasons. Even the Thanagarian had been spared that fate.

Only he knew the torture and pain, humans could inflict when they feared for their safety.

When Superman released him, as Batman helped him stand, he'd vowed never again to personally pay for failure. He would never again be held captive against his will.

Many on the Watchtower were surprised by Ed Vance's sudden suicide, but only six suspected that Vance had paid the full price for a Martian's failure.

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A/N: There is a horrible pun in this. I am not sorry.

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DRABBLE - DO THEY HAVE BUTTERFLIES ON THANAGAR? by BILLA1

A/N: Inspired by a chat room conversation with CRHBLACK.

Do They Have Butterflies on Thanagar?

Do they have butterflies on Thanagar?

What color is the sunset?

Do the birds walk because the people fly?

Does everyone there wear masks?

I just assumed we would have forever.

I just thought things would never change.

I thought I would have a lifetime to ask you.

I would watch you sleep and thank God you were in my life.

Now I can't speak your name except in my dreams.

Now I can't get answers to the questions I wanted to ask.

How many moons are orbiting above Thanagar?

And why did you decide to love me?

Why me?

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SECOND TIER CONVERSATION by BILLA1

===HUGE Spoiler for Wake the Dead===

Second Tier Conversation

"Why is she here? Why did she come back?"

"Maybe there will be a trial."

"I heard they hid her up here so she doesn't have to face the press."

"Yeah. Someone might try to hurt her."

"Well, they should. Look at what she did. She made us look bad."

"I heard she's in because of Superman."

"I heard she was in because of the Green Lantern"

"Well, one thing is for sure. She's not one of the leaders. She's on the second tier with us and even that's too good for her."

"Yeah. She's not a leader."

"Not yet."

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DRABBLE - THE GOODBYE by BILLA1

The Goodbye

He knocked on the door to her quarters. He could see the surprise on her face when he said, "I have orders. I'm leaving Earth tonight."

She asked softly, "Do you know when you'll return?"

"No. A tour is five to ten years. I won't be back for a long time."

She fingered her mace nervously. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too," he said.

She looked away then gazed into his eyes. "Promise me you'll be careful."

"I will. Promise me the same?"

"I will." She paused. "I still love you."

"I know...that's why you're going with me."

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