14136/Bird is a Bird is Bird

Bird is a Bird is Bird
Date of Scene:	14 February 2023
Location:	E04 - Empty Dorm - Titan's Tower
Synopsis:	Hank shares the tale of his trip to Gotham, and the two of them discuss just how much of their relationship is ordained by the Lords of Chaos and Order, and how much is just them.
Cast of Characters:	Hank Hall, Dawn Granger

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Hank Hall has posed:
It had been a day since Hank had told Dawn that he had to go back undercover, and to Gotham of all places. He promised her it would be as short of a time as he could make it, but after the ring was busted the last time, some of them got back out and were reforming. And the lead lieutenant on the case felt that Hank, as someone who was busted along with them in his cover identity, would stand an easier time breaking back in than someone else. Neither of them wanted it, and he had been promised to be free from any undercover missions for a while after the last one. But he had to do what he had to do. Not that that had made it any easier on either of them.

So he imagined it would be a surprise when he snuck back into Dawn's room the very next day, back from Gotham and released from duty. He hoped it would be a welcome surprise. He could not imagine why it would not be.

Dawn Granger has posed:
There's always a bit of worry that rests in the pit of Dawn's stomach when Hank does undercover work. She *knows* he would be okay, but it doesn't stop that seed of concern that wants to make sure he's safe. Cuddled up on the corner of the couch, oversized sweater wrapped around her, she's currently several chapters deep in a book when Hank arrives. Not at all expecting him, she hasn't even looked up from her book initially.

It must be the good part.

Hank Hall has posed:
"Good to know I am easily replaced by..." Hank leans to the side to try to peer at the cover of the book to catch the author's name.

He smiles warmly towards Dawn and drops his duffel bag onto the ground. "Honey, I'm home."

Dawn Granger has posed:
While Dawn might not jump with surprise, she was distracted by the book so it takes her a second to actually process that he's *there*. The novel, something with a dramatically posed couple on the front, looks like a dime-a-dozen romance. She sets the book aside on the table, getting up to her feet to meet him as he heads towards her.

"You're never going to be easily replaced. Or *ever* replaced, if I have any say in it," she says simply, moving to throw her arms around him. "I'm really glad you're back."

Hank Hall has posed:
Reaching out to pull her into his arms, Hank delivers a brief kiss in greeting to Dawn. "I sure hope not. Although apparently I am just what the Tinder ordered for supervillains, so..." He laughs a bit. "You are _not_ going to believe how I got out of Gotham so quickly. It was the _craziest_ shit, Dawn." He gives her another hug. "Very glad to be back."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn laughs at the idea, content to rest in his arms for the moment as she hugs him. "I'm definitely glad you're safe. I hope 'craziest shit' is more of a surprising thing and less of a 'things were chaotic and I almost died' thing." She grins at him. "Come sit and tell me about it?"

Hank Hall has posed:
The look that Hank gives her at that question tells Dawn all she needs to know - it was _definitely_ the "things were chaotic and I almost died" thing. "Oh, this one is _actually_ an interesting story," he says, moving to follow her over to a seat. "So they sent me to rejoin the old gang, right? And after I go around trying to figure out where they are hanging out, right as I go up towards the door to try to find them, guess who I run into?"

He looks at her expectantly. "Psychopath, Gotham City. Not the Joker."

Dawn Granger has posed:
There's a tiny scrunch of Dawn's face that it's not just a funny story. She settles on the couch again, moving to take possession of his hand so she can lace her fingers with his. "Hank, I'm pretty sure half of the villains in Gotham are psychopaths. You did take away my first guess, which obviously would be the Joker... and I'm very glad *he* is not who you ran into."

Hank Hall has posed:
While Dawn settles on the couch, Hank just flops onto it. But he takes her hand nonetheless. "Yeah, although, I dunno." He laughs. "Before I could get there, Harley freakin' Quinn kicks in the door and starts yabbering at them." He just shakes his head. "I walk in, of course, and she is trying to talk to them, and some guy came at her with a knife, and..." He pauses. "I just reacted, you know? How I usually do?"

He sighs. "Next thing I know, I'm ass to ass to Harley freakin' Quinn fighting off a bunch of goons."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"You... holy shit," Dawn leans forward, listening to the story with wide eyes. "That is the last thing I would have expected you to be doing. I assume you both did well." She pauses. "What's she like in person? I mean, I doubt you did a lot of talking while you were fighting off goons, but I am definitely curious how it all went and what she was like."

Hank Hall has posed:
"Yeah, can't say I ever had that on my list of things I expected to do." Hank leans back into the couch. "We survived, and honestly, against that many goons, for not having powers, I think it was a pretty good performance." He laughs. "Not at lot of talking? That girl was _non-stop_ the entire time! Rambling and rambling, she just kept going!" He considers carefully for a moment what he is about to say next. "It's funny, she is clearly skilled at working with a partner, as am I, as we worked together, but it just didn't..." He shrugs. "I know what moves you are going to make, so when we fight together, it just flows and everything works. With her, you know, one minute I am punching a guy, the next she is flinging me at a guy with a machine gun." He shrugs.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn laughs in reply. "It sounds like she's a riot. In a good way, I mean. I don't think I'd ever want to be on her bad side from the sounds of it." When he speaks about working with a partner, she smiles softly. "We do work well together. I imagine she's very unexpected even if she's skilled. We're... something else entirely. I don't think a lot of people have that sort of intuition with someone else."

She pauses in thought. "It *is* very much like a dance. You follow a lead, you signal in subtle ways what you're doing, and you trust your partner. Less likely to get severely injured or take a fatal injury in dancing, but it's the same general concept. You trust someone with your life."

Hank Hall has posed:
"Oh, no, definitely don't be on her bad side. It was like fighting with Hawk, honestly. She just did not care what she did to people." Hank nods to Dawn as she talks about their partnership. "Yeah, with her, I kind of followed along, but I tell you, there is nothing like fighting with someone unfamiliar to make you realize just how much you love fighting with your partner." He smiles towards her. "Not that I needed any reminders."

A nod. "Yeah. I think because I saved her from the knife at first, she took a shining to me, and then we both ended up fighting." He laughs. "She took out the whole gang, so no reason for me to be undercover anymore." He glances over at Dawn, a grin appearing on his face. "She tried to hook me up with her roommate. But I passed."

Dawn Granger has posed:
There's almost a little color to Dawn's cheeks. Almost. "I'm glad she took a liking to you, but honestly that's a bit terrifying. I'm... not the greatest fan of that sort of pure chaos. Hawk's the chaos I can handle." She squeezes his fingers. "I wonder what could possibly have made you pass up that opportunity," she says, teasingly as she looks at him.

Hank Hall has posed:
"Oh, it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. I've never had the Chaos Lord screaming DANGER DANGER DANGER at me any louder in my entire life." Should Hank have mentioned that this whole thing went down as Hank, not Hawk? Maybe, maybe not. He laughs a bit at the tease, and smiles back. "You know, for a solid, like, two seconds there, I was wondering just what kind of psycho would room with Harley Quinn."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"I imagine someone who also would have a bit of difficulty finding a date, if Harley Quinn is offering her up," Dawn laughs, but she's somewhat curious too. Who *would* room with her? "I'm glad it didn't go any worse. That really could have been more chaotic. As much as I want to say I'd want to have been there to help you... I am very much glad that I wasn't. That would have been a bit overwhelming for me, I think."

Hank Hall has posed:
There is a laugh at that. "Oh, for sure. Or maybe.." Hank just shakes his head. "I don't want to speculate. But probably someone as crazy, if not crazier, than she is." He considers that for a moment, that statement. "Eh. You could have handled it, I think. Maybe you'd have brought more order to the situation instead of more chaos." He gives her fingers a squeeze. "But that's why there's no one better for me than you. A perfect match." He leans over and kisses her cheek. "And I don't just mean Hawk and Dove."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn squeezes his fingers. "Well, maybe I could have brought some order in. I think working with you would have made it less stressful, but I know she probably would have gotten under my skin after a bit. She seems incredibly unexpected." She smiles again when her cheek is kissed, and she looks back to him, then leans her head on her shoulder. "You know, I'm really think that's true."

Hank Hall has posed:
"She was a bit chaotic, even for _me_, Dawn." Hank laughs a bit at that. "She'd have driven you bonkers." He reaches up with his hand to brush against the side of her face from the front as she leans against him. "I know it's true. I mean, I suppose it's hard to _know_, right, when we've got these weird Order and Chaos Lords pumping us, but..." He shakes his head. "That's not what it is."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"It does make things a little vaguer, certainly. It brought us together, and there are times when it feels like Hawk and Dove working well together just sort of feeds into us." Dawn squeezes his fingers, rubbing her thumb lightly against the skin of his hand. "It's just hard to tell what is *us* sometimes."

Hank Hall has posed:
A slow nod as Hank thinks through this as well. "I worried about that once, but I don't anymore." He leans against her. "We're never going to be free of being Hawk and Dove, so even if that _does_ play a part, does it even really matter?" He turns and kisses her cheek again. "Besides, I know that I love Dawn Granger as Dawn Granger."

Dawn Granger has posed:
That brings a smile to Dawn's lips, and she turns to steal a quick kiss from him. "You're right on that aspect. It's not like there's any way to know, and regardless of influence, you're everything to me. I love you, Hank. Lords of Order and Chaos didn't give me that. You did."

Hank Hall has posed:
"And if we ever did find some way to tell?" Hank smiles at her. "I guarantee you, it wouldn't make any difference." He leans over and takes another kiss. "And I'd say we gave it to each other." He slips an arm around her waist. "So, what do you say you go put that book away, I throw that bag somewhere, and I show you one of the tricks I learned from Harley." He grins.

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn slides her arms around his neck, nuzzling her nose lightly against his, and then pulls back so she can fetch the book and put it away. "I hope this trick doesn't involve one of us launching at someone with a machine gun. That sounds like a bit of set up there."

Hank Hall has posed:
Slipping an arm down around under her, Hank lifts Dawn up, cradling her by the behind and carrying her off. "No machine guns involved. I promise." And then he laughs. "Although, you know..." Dirty, dirty mind...

Dawn Granger has posed:
There's a laugh from Dawn, leaning in for a brief kiss. "I certainly hope that you're not thinking of tricks Harley taught you with that sort of look on your face." She grins.

Hank Hall has posed:
A shake of his head. "No, that one is too dirty even for her." Hank pinches Dawn's rear as he carries her along towards the bed. "And rest assured, when I am with you, I am not thinking of _anyone_ else."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Giggling, Dawn buries her face in against his neck. "Good, that's how I like it. Having you with me is what I always want. I feel like I should send her a thank you card for having your back and making sure you came back to me quickly."

Hank Hall has posed:
Settling Dawn down gently on the bed, Hank tosses his duffel into the corner. "I mean, you can, but I think she might get the wrong idea." He laughs. "She was trying to recruit me into the lucrative career of henching."

Dawn Granger has posed:
Dawn gently sets her book on the bedside table, making sure not to lose her bookmark. "Oh, henching is it? I think you're a bit too strong to be a henchmen. You'd stand out in the crowd of goons. Too handsome."

Hank Hall has posed:
Once the book is set aside, Hank shakes his head, stepping up to the bed and sliding a hand around to Dawn's posterior again. "Oh, I was just Hank the whole time. Regular ol' Hank." He grins for a moment. "Just imagine the true chaos if Hawk had come out."

Dawn Granger has posed:
"Somehow that makes me worry more, but you're still here and safe with me," Dawn says, leaning in for a brief kiss before she slides an arm around him. "I was referring to you and not Hawk, by the way, on standing out because you're handsome. Who knows how you manage that undercover thing."

Hank Hall has posed:
"It was a bit dice, I'll admit, but I got out unscathed, so. No harm no foul." Hank leans against her as she pulls him in, and he smiles. "She did says something about that, I think." Another grin. Then he leans forward, bringing his lips towards her ear and whispering. "You want me to show you how I manage that under the covers thing?" he murmurs.

Dawn Granger has posed:
There's another laugh and Dawn squeezes him gently with her arm. "Pretty sure you're going to show me something that has nothing to do with going undercover," she grins, then looks back to him. "But... I'd like to see how you can manage."

Hank Hall has posed:
Hank's grin lingers until he leans over and turns off the table light next to the bed. "Challenge accepted," he murmurs as the light fades from the room. The grin, most likely, remains.