everyonelives | the ground could open, he could still say please

Of course.

[He glances back at William with a small smile.]

I'll come find you when we're done?

( "Yeah, send up the bat signal if you need anything." He says it encouragingly, but still with a lighter lilt. He is here for Cooper in any capacity. She's going to ignore being compared to a Batman villain. )

I know you're not a quitter and I know spending time here, taking a much-deserved break after everything - I know it's not the end. I'm sorry that I acted like it was a slap in my face. I know it's not.

I know. I caught you by surprise.

[He doesn't hold it against her.]

I just didn't know you had such strong feelings about me hunting.

Hunting's all we know. And, whatever you do, if it isn't hunting, I want you happy. I know it's not an easy life and I know it's not - the safest - but I did think you loved it. Before Monroe... Everything felt clearer and true. I guess I didn't know what would come out of the other side for you after. And I guess I worried it wouldn't be hunting.

( And that's how it had sounded. But, even if that is the case, she can't take it personally. Her son has his own life to live. )

[He nods because he gets it.]

I just need a little time, to be not on the road floating from job to job. And if I'm honest, I probably won't be completely retired here. I'm sure Star City has got it's fair share of restless spirits to take care of. I just am not going to be so focused on it for a little while.

[He's not planning on giving up his job. He loves his job. He just needs a break.]

And the whole Monroe situation did give me a lot to think about when it comes to how I do this job, and how I want to handle that moving forward.

I'm real proud of you, you know that?

( Simple and to the point. He's grown up so much in such a short time. And now she has to prepare for more time away from him. )

[He smiles, because he is always glad to hear it.]

I just like to think I had good examples.

[Her and dad both, even if Michael has been making some mistakes as of late.]

Well, we tried. Glad we didn't screw you up to the point of no return.

( Or, at all. )

I like him for you.

I like him for me too.

[He mostly just likes William, but the fact that William wants to be with him too doesn't hurt.]

But we haven't had a lot of real time together, so hopefully this will be good.

Explain to me, how did it happen. It feels quick. I'm not saying it is, I just - you're in love with someone. I feel like I missed it all.

( It's an assumption she makes, but she can see it in his eyes, even if he can't yet. Or, maybe she just hopes. )

Well, we were in London. My brother had just died and I was trying to get out of a bloodbath, and we got trapped under a building together.

[Because that's always the first meeting story you want to here.]

We were fine, mostly, just trapped, and we had to work together to get out. I found out he was working for Isaac Lahey, who works for Allison Argent. After we got out, when Monroe didn't give me satisfactory answers regarding why Lucas was there and what the point was, after some thinking, I tracked him down again and volunteered to be his inside man.

( Way to bury the lede, but she doesn't doubt the happy outcome as you're standing here in one piece. But the worrying brow lessens as he keeps talking. )

Is - is that a euphemism?

... Inside Monroe's organization.

[He's surprised Dad didn't tell her. Probably because he didn't want to get more of his wife's wrath than he'd already earned.]

I was feeding him information for about six months.

( Look, she doesn't have all the facts. It's only awkward if you make it awkward. That makes more sense. )

You were a double agent.

[He nods.]

Yeah. It worked out for the best. Kept some people alive that might not have been otherwise. But can't save everyone, you know?

[And he wound up not being able to save a lot of people on the hunter side. Good men who like his dad, just thought they were following the cause.]

You can't. Nobody can. Not even Oliver Queen.

( Especially not, if his storied history is any indication. )

Your dad and I are leaving in the morning. Together.

[His eyebrows go up a bit at that, turning to face her with an amused smile.]

Patched things up then?

We were always going to.

( They had their stretches alone, when the going got tough. When a job separated them or they separated themselves. )

But, we'll be a call away. I promise to do that better. And I will learn not to hate Facetime.

You don't need to be on Facetime. Regular old phone calls work just fine.

[He will always answer when his mom calls, unless he's doing things that she doesn't want to know about.]

And let me know if you guys run into any trouble. I have a lot of new friends now who could help.

Allison Argent and the Winchesters. You really hit the jackpot in the hunter network.

( Again, she's proud and impressed. )

Do... you think William might want to go to lunch with us? You, me, dad.

I think that would be fine, but I'll check with him first.

[He's not going to make promises that will put his boyfriend in an uncomfortable position.]

I'll go find him and let you know?

Yeah, you do that. ( And then. ) I love you.

Love you too, Mom.

[And with that he will head off to find William, and they will hopefully have some lunch with his parents.]

the ground could open, he could still say please

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