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[pixieboots]

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action; before the flood!

[airborn]

[Sometime during the day, Dick will find a little bunch of yellow flowers placed on his pillow. There's no note or anything (not that the writing would stick around long), but if he asks around, he might find that this particular bloom's name is Rue.]

I'M SO SORRY this notif died somewhere in my inbox, lmk if this works!

[pixieboots]

[ It takes Dick a few days. Partly because he doesn't sleep there in that room, not ever, and partly because the mystery itself requires a little groundwork. It's groundwork that's interrupted two-fold by the flood and then the whirlpools, and by the time all the pieces finally click together Rue's flowers are dried and wilting. Once he knows for sure what they are he finds himself staring for a few minutes anyway, a tiny smile stealing across his face. Then he tucks them back into his belt.

He owes someone an apology.

Sometime early evening, once the water's receded enough to allow for reentry, Rue might spot a shadow by her window, followed by a light, almost tentative tap on the glass. ]

no worries! it looks good c:

[airborn]

[It's the tap that gets her attention, and she's immediately alert, eyes searching the room. When she finally spots the shadow, she walks over to the window and opens it a smidgen.]

Robin?

[One of them, at least. She really needs to figure out a way to differentiate name-wise.]

[Video] 11/22

[preemptively]

[He had briefly thought about including Dick in the message he sent out, but decides against it because of Dick’s age and when he came from. Dick has had enough surprises rocking his world so the least Tim could do is make it a little easier, however marginal it might be.

In the end he decides to ask Dick to meet him, because it might be better to do this in person. He uses video aimed at the ground once more, voice quiet and a little tired.]

Roof, block 6, ten minutes. Please.

[When Dick arrives, he’ll find Tim in civilian clothing, mostly hidden by the garden growing on the roof.]

[action] 8(

[pixieboots]

[ Something's wrong. He knows it from the moment he hears Tim's voice, that he's in trouble. That he needs him there ten minutes ago, not ten minutes from now. He makes it in about nine and a half anyway, losing the line mid-jump and letting momentum and gravity do the rest of his work. ]

Hey, Red- [ -and the name dies in his throat almost too late. Civvies.

He changes direction and drops into the garden instead with a soundless hop, waiting a few token seconds before he slides in between two fronds; still hidden, but visible from where Tim is standing. Robin doesn't know Tim.

Something's wrong. ]

...Tim?

[action] Dick nooooo ;A;

[preemptively]

[He looks up when his periphery vision catches the flash of yellow, not speaking until Dick finds a spot between the foliage. Instead of giving into the urge to scrub at his face with his hands, he sticks both hands in his jeans pockets, a reassuring smile in place. He knows it's unusual to contact Dick in his civvies, but there's no chance for him to change when Bruce is here.]

Hey, how are you doing?

Video (covered screen); two days after the new arrivals

[littlestguano]

Are you busy? [He doesn't bother to introduce himself, assuming Grayson will recognize his voice.]

video; covered screen

[pixieboots]

...No? [ It's only the covered screen that makes him (maybe stubbornly) cover his. ]

You know the voice is kinda obvious by now, right?

video;

[littlestguano]

[There's a pause and then the cover is removed.]

...it was habit. I don't use the audio function. [Except for very infrequently when someone who knows his ID initiates a conversation. Which has happened all of once. Which is what he reminds himself as he fights down a very slight flush of embarrassment.]

I was hoping that we could meet.

audio » ( backdated to december 3 )

[conceptualise]

Hello, Dick. Do you have a moment free?

audio »

[pixieboots]

...Yeah. Sure I do.

What's up?

audio »

[conceptualise]

May we meet? I can go to you if it would be easier.

action;

[redactions]

[ He's not as familiar with this Robin's patrol route through the ruins of Haven West and it's only luck that he spots this bird darting away somewhere. He follows, not bothering to disguise that he is, careful with the wrapped bowl on the uneven ground, and waves him down. ]

Hey. How're you doin'?

action;

[pixieboots]

Good as it gets. [ Whether it's an accident or deliberate on Bucky's part it's not every night someone makes the effort just for him. He's grinning while he dangles upside down from a low outcropping, holding on to the illusion for just a moment that it's only happenstance that he let himself be flagged. ]

How'd you know where to find me?

action;

[redactions]

[ He quirks a smile. The kid's enthusiasm is infectious. ]

Oh, I'm pretty good at birdwatchin'.

[ two double meanings for the price of one ]

action;

[bokator]

[ Not long after he sets out for patrol, Dick'll notice someone following - Rose isn't bothering to be quiet or unnoticeable. In fact, once spotted, she waves, and speeds up, indicating a race is on. ]

action;

[pixieboots]

[ That she catches him so early makes him wonder with a tiny flicker of alarm just how predictable he's gotten, when he's out on his own. But it's chilly night, and he's cold and lonely. Even strange, condemning Rose isn't unwelcome.

He waves back with a grin, then arches his back into an easy forward flip that covers him a few yards before he has to use the grapple again. The race is on. ]

action;

[bokator]

[ Rose just makes a habit of knowing everyone else's habits. She keeps up with him easily, zigzagging through the shadows below him. The grapple is to his advantage, but she has her speed. ]

Oh you're gonna lose this one, Robin!

action (kind of);

[redactions]

[ Left on his patrol route is a small, wooden carved robin, on a circular stand. ]

oh no

[pixieboots]

[ It's for one of the others, he thinks automatically. Something made with thought and care, given away for no occasion. He cups it in his hands anyway, breathless for a moment.

This is his route. Anyone who watches him, who's met him out here working this path, would know. This is the one he's carved out for those nights he has to himself. He knows just who put it here.

He ducks his head around the smile, then tucks the bird carefully into his belt (the hard, reinforced compartment). He takes to the rooftop then starts to canvas the area, deliberately enough that he'll be spotted by anyone lurking. Bucky can't have gone far (if his hunch is right). ]

oh yes

[redactions]

[ If anyone asks, Bucky's not lurking. The Winter Soldier lurks - ghosts have reason to. Him? He's just hanging out. It's not a restless night, or one where he feels the old war in his bones like slow-acting poison, just one that's clear and folks should be out on a night like this. ]

[ He's humming when Dick finds him, setting up a small sniper's nest near the soup kitchen. ]

[enshields]

[There's a hot meal set out on his patrol route, marked by a little carved Robin sigil that appears to be cut out of glass.]

[pixieboots]

[ He hadn’t planned on eating tonight, on a day when he’s had a good breakfast and half of a snack. When supplies are low, when he has Damian and Rue to think of. He stops when he spots it, freezing in his tracks. Bucky, he thinks. It has to be Bucky.

But somehow, somehow it isn't Bucky this time. He knows that the moment he spots the sigil. He picks it up in disbelief, turning it over slowly in his hands, marveling at each perfect line. Marveling that someone would make this and then choose to give it away. Give it away to him.

And maybe it isn't meant for him at all. But the thought on its own settles something warm in his chest.

He’s more desperately hungry than he knew, and the sight of food does him in. He takes his time and eats only half, gently packing away the rest. Then he’s darting back to the refuge of the rooftop, shading his eyes to scan the ruins he'd abandoned for the meal. He has half a hunch to go on. He'll track him down if it takes all night, but maybe that's part of the game. ]

audio; backdated to day of new arrivals like a boss

[conceptualise]

[ one awful meeting later, bruce does the only thing he can: try to arrange for her a little of the protection that he has.

dick's friendly. kind. maybe he can get through where bruce failed. ]

Hey.

[ he forces his tone to be even, but doesn't quite succeed. ]

[pixieboots]

[ With an unsettling encounter (and broken promise) of his own down for the count, Dick's been waiting for this call. Pondering how long he should wait before making it himself. If Bruce would want to hear it from him if he doesn't know yet.

It's almost a relief when the decision is finally made for him. He picks up immediately. ]

Hey. What's up, pal?