Burial of an Owl

Steve frowned when he heard that Bruce had been with Chloe at one point but at Chloe's defeated expression he doubted that she and this Bruce guy would get back together.

She shook her head, "Its sweet of you to say Johnny, but I don't think Bruce will want anything to do with me. After all I screwed everything up.....like always." She said bitterly. She hated the fact that she sounded like a spurned lover with a mix of whiny child.

Johnny shook his head. "You didn't screw up anything. Tommy made you think he was your boyfriend then he gave you to me to rape. None of that was your fault." Johnny said.

Steve was confused about this but he didn't voice his concerns, was this Tommy guy-? he froze and then turned back to look at the grave. Chloe had mentioned the guy was Thomas....Steve could only imagine what he had done to Chloe to make her believe that he was this Bruce.

Chloe shook her head, "Before any of that....Thomas made me believe that Bruce didn't want our child anymore and...I tried to kill myself. If it hadn't been for Clark...I would have died...as it was I lost the baby because I was an idiot. Before that I tried to be nice and celebrate Bruce's birthday but I found out later that his birthday happened to be the anniversary of his parent's death. So I really messed up.....I guess I should just...." She trailed off and shook her head.

"Jezz. You made a lot of mistakes, but really if that messes with him then that's his fault." Johnny shrugged.

Steve bit his lip, it sounded like this Bruce character was the one with issues, after all how was she supposed to know that his parents had died that day? He felt angry on Chloe's behalf and even though he didn't like the guy, Johnny had made a point even if he didn't like how it had been delivered.

Chloe winced at Johnny's words, "I just wish I'd stop making mistakes...you know? It seems like I can't go an entire day without making them." She admitted with some frusteration and self-loathing as she thought about it.

Johnny laughed. "It's impossible for anyone to go a whole day without making a mistake. We all do that. Even the great hero's you live with." Johnny smirked at her.

Steve actually agreed with Johnny, "As much as I hate agreeing with him, he's right." He said stiffly but honestly as he thought about the whole thing with X-23.

Chloe bit her lip and sighed, "I guess you're right, but it doesn't make it any easier." She said softly before she cleared her throat. "Anyway change of subject, how are things going back at the Brotherhood?" She asked Johnny.

Johnny shrugged. "Nothing much. A girl, Jane, was killed in the Arena by Artemis. She was cute. I called her Pep, but nothing much else."

Steve winced as he heard that, the arena matches sounded as if they were dangerous. His eyes narrowed as he wondered if someone who was pregnant still had to fight in a match, he really hoped that for Chloe's sake she didn't have too.

Chloe nodded, "Well I'm sorry to hear that Johnny, and is it just me or is every conversation we have going to be morbid?" She asked as she tried to lighten the atmosphere.

"Well to be fair this time you were barring a body and the rest of the time you always seem really upset so that's were it goes." Johnny shrugged.

Steve shook his head as they kept walking, Chloe surprised him she clearly didn't like Johnny and yet she tolerated his presence. He wondered at her reasons and kept coming up empty, he rubbed his chin as he thought about it, Chloe had to be awfully forgiving if she was even allowing Johnny the chance to see his kid.

Chloe nodded in agreement, "I guess you're right, happier subject change?" She asked almost desperately as she stared at him pleadingly.

"Ok.. umm... So anyone new show up at the mansion other then the Cap here?" Johnny used his thumb to point at Steve.

Steve sighed out, "Another guy who's taken up the mantle of Batman, his name is Dick Grayson and he seems like a nice guy." He said.

Chloe nodded and fought back a laugh as she remembered how Dick had arrived er well fallen into the universe. "He's the complete opposite of Bruce....he actually smiles. I'm not saying that Bruce never smiles but Dick well he seems like a friendly guy." She said as she thought about it.

Johnny smiled. "Well that's good... Hey maybe he can help you with your man." Johnny suggested.


(ooc: Johnny is fairly oblivious to others feelings )

Steve's eyebrows went up but he didn't comment and instead turned to look down.

Chloe blushed fiercely and tucked some hair behind her ear, "I don't know." She finally said as she looked down, feeling put on the spot.

Johnny shrugged. "Well that's up to you. Honestly if the guy give you grief about his birthday and you didn't know his issues then he doesn't really deserve you."

Steve glanced down at Chloe as Johnny said that and wondered about her reaction, she looked like she disagreed.