why is it you always get to sit in the shade

[blackstarred]

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[razes]

[Laurel nods and walks her back to the front to gather her things, before heading upstairs to the bedrooms.]

You know, when you showed up I knew lunch was about to get interesting, but I didn't know it would be that interesting.

[As teasing as she's being, she is a bit concerned.]

Are you okay?

[disputable]

( Her things are minimal, like they always are on a hunt. She leaves the other changes of clothes, the FBI suit she uses and her weapons in the car.

It's a nice walk upstairs and it feels like she can breathe when Laurel closes the door behind them. She sets her bag on the bed, sighing. )

Am I okay.

( She looks up at the crown molding, then back down, and turns to face her hospitable host. )

I promise, I wasn't planning on making a scene. I just wanted to see my son.

[razes]

Is it bad that I was kind of hoping there would at least be a tiny scene?

[She's completely teasing, as though to indicate that there's no harm, no foul.]

Oliver's the most fun when he gets wrenches thrown in his day.

[disputable]

And you like chaos. Protip, you should never play poker.

( But, even seeing Cooper for ten - twenty minutes - knowing he'd be back... it makes her scene okay. )

Oliver didn't have to ask me to stay. He did it for his son, didn't he?

[razes]

More or less. We only met Cooper this afternoon, so he definitely wasn't doing it for him.

[Which isn't to say that Oliver doesn't like Cooper, but Oliver is very much someone who is much more invested in the people he actually cares about versus everyone else.]

But he wants William to be happy. And your husband was already staying here, I think he figured one more wouldn't hurt.

[disputable]

I overheard my son once, on the phone. He calls me a hurricane. I may blow into people's lives, but I pride myself on making them better.

( It's what a hunter does. )

[razes]

That's admirable. And it's not like I can judge your methods.

[She does have a voice that levels buildings, after all.]

I guess I'm just confused as to why you're opposed to your son staying out of danger and taking care of himself for a little while.

[disputable]

( No, she doesn't think the woman who invited the hurricane in knowingly can judge. )

I'm not opposed to him being out of danger. I want nothing more than for him to be safe. And sound.

( But, give her a second as she processes through exactly how she feels. It's on the tip of her tongue, but it's hard to say out loud. )

We're hunters. All three of us. Even if we aren't together all the time, or if we work separate cases. We're hunters. What if he's done, what if he quits and I never see him again.

[razes]

The person in me who likes to state the obvious would like to point out that there's phones, video calls and text messages. I don't think that your son is going to never speak to you again, just because he's not hunting anymore.

[But she also doesn't think that's Evelyn's point.]

But speaking as a woman who has a family full of superheroes, there's always a chance that you'll never see them again. It's the risk we take when we do what we do. But if you're worried about something happening to you on the job, then maybe it's better to be more intentional to the things you say to him when you do speak.

[disputable]

Be more intentional.

( She shakes her head, smiling to herself. )

You sound like my mother.

( Maybe she doesn't express her feelings so easily and openly because her mother always did, always to Evelyn's detriment. )

Tell me I didn't drive him off today. He's just blowing off steam with his boyfriend. ( She also wants clarification from Laurel. ) Boyfriend?

[razes]

I think boyfriend is a safe bet. William's actually never brought a boyfriend around before, so whatever this is, he's fairly attached.

[But that isn't the actual question.]

But I don't think you drove him off. I think you two should have a conversation, but I think in the end you'll be fine.

[disputable]

Thank Oliver for me.

( For letting her stay. )

[razes]

Of course. Let us know if you need anything.

[And with that, she will leave Evelyn to her own devices.]