An offer he CAN refuse

"So haaaay, how's it going?" Kadasha repeated, sauntering down the concrete front steps of the next door duplex and reclining in one of the ancient furniture pieces.

"Just got done with the workout," Robin replied, pushing open the small fence and closing it behind himself. A small boy with a brightly colored weapon ran up to him and paused to point it directly at Robin while shouting "BANG BANG". Robin fought back the natural urge to set the kid straight, as his eyes drifted to the kid's mother. Dammit, he couldn't remember her name, lounging on the opposite side steps with her own beverage.

"Hey Robin," The woman waved one handed. No joint in this one's hand. "You and the girls up for a barbecue tonight?"

Robin shuddered internally. No... no fucking way. He couldn't remember which one of their husbands was in jail, which one was having an affair with whichever, which one was between jobs, just... too much drama to listen to. But that's the problem. Most people don't listen. Heck, there was a whole industry of people who got paid to just listen to people.

"Oh, I'm gonna have to take a rain check," Robin swallowed the second rush of adrenaline that ran through him as a second small child returned fire on the first with a toy gun that made noise. "Just got done with a hike, so..."

"One of these days we're gonna get you back out here," The woman laughed. "Oh, that great gal came by, you know the one one with red hair? What was her name?"

Robin momentarily thought she was talking about Viola, before remembering that his ex Becca had introduced herself to all of the neighbors when she had visited. Repeatedly. And had suggested that he "Get to Know" his neighbors better.

"Becca, and she's not supposed to be here," Robin remarked, remembering exactly how hard it had been to get rid of that woman. Zero Contact was supposed to mean zero contact. Last thing he needed was to even give her the suggestion that it was anything but over.

"Oh, she didn't come in. Just stood out there for about ten minutes then got back in her car and left." The woman leaned back again, bringing a small jiggle to a roll of flesh on her arms. "So... what happened with you two anyway?"

"I uh... shit... I totally forgot your name," Robin lied. Ashley, her name was Ashley, he remembered. He also remembered that her husband was a felon, and insanely jealous for some reason. "Just, you know, stuff happens. Look I gotta crash. Catch you next time, okay?"

"You always forget my name," Ashley shrugged, pulling a cigarette from a small bag that sat nearby. Robin took the opportunity to dodge another round of imaginary gunfire from a child sniper situated in the tree at the end of the yard. Only a few more steps, and he found his hand turning his key in the lock of his own home. "It's ASHLEY!" The woman shouted at his back, and he waved one handed over his shoulder as he pushed the door open.

The main room was empty as he entered the room. He heard muted sounds from upstairs, and he craned his attention a bit, hearing the soft sound of Miranda's voice as she occasionally spoke back and forth between rooms to her sister, like they always did.

"I'm Home! I got Miki Today!" He shouted, to subdued sounds of "Hi Dad!" in response. Sunday morning... Ugh. Would still be a few hours till Lauren got home, he noted the clock ticking towards noon. Enough time for a nap at least. He dropped the gym bag next to the washer in the kitchen, before ascending his steps. Both of the girl's rooms had their doors wide open, but as they had it set up, you really couldn't see their standard sitting positions from the door. The girls liked their privacy, and he understood that.

"And Sensei John decided that he was going to use me as the demonstration guy," Robin poked his head in on each of his daughters, noting that they were taking little to no notice of him. Day off, right.

"You are the typical bad guy, Dad," Titania pointed out.

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" Robin groaned.

"Yeah, she's right, Dad. I mean, big guy that totally needs to be taken down. I think like every fighting game has a guy that looks kinda like you in the first level." Miranda agreed, pulling her headphones down and looking back over her shoulder. "Heck, even Darkest Dungeon had..."

"Big tough guy who hits hard, right..." Robin sighed. "Anybody need the bathroom?"

"Nope," came the response, and Robin gratefully moved to take possession of the bathroom. His aching muscles were incredibly grateful for the warm water that poured over him not a few moments later and he breathed heavily, trying to take in the warm moisture that he had previously sweat out.

He was so oblivious to anything at this point that he forgot that he was supposed to leave the bathroom door open. His mind was totally absorbed with things that he didn't want there. The sound of the children still engaged in their kill respawn kill game outside didn't help matters much, but he concentrated on just relaxing, and wiping the grime and sweat of the workout from his body.

Robin grabbed a towel from the cupboard and wiped the mirror free of water. Yep, time to take care of everything else, he sighed, looking at himself. Need to get a little sleep, he noted the small circles that had begun to form under his eyes. Staying up too late too often, and it's gonna show. You're not twenty anymore, Robin, no matter how much you wish you were... Actually, no, he reflected, he didn't wish he was twenty again. He just wished he had the body he didn't take care of when he was twenty.

As he left the bathroom he thought about Viola. That had been a bright part of the day. He thought about how she had moved for him, how she had watched, what she had said, and that final moment of just holding her, sweetly. Almost like holding a soft kitten in his arms. With a gorgeous ass.

He chuckled at the last, remembering that he was going to have to leave her a note... Damn that bed looked inviting though.

Against the window, secured with another bit of tape, hung a familiar bit of handwriting.

"Viola, Was absolutely wonderful to spend time with you last night. Sorry I'm a little exhausted right now, but I'd love to spend some more time with you when we're both up to it. If you're not feeling Tales, we could always just do something out, or maybe a hike when my legs recover... If you need me, you'll probably see me."

Below his handwriting was a small arrow pointing directly to the bed, and the comatose man on it.