[ it doesn't happen often, and when it does it's harder each time to resist the needling itch to take a step outside unaccompanied. Just to do flips in the hallway, just to do one good handstand.
But Steph would be upset if he did, so he'd been curbing the feeling this time with some DS instead, curled on his bed with his tablet at his side.
Only Steph wouldn't text him if it wasn't important, she'd be here in person. ]
[Sorry she really did have to discuss things with Rosyln first, but five minutes later she's knocking on the door to Dick's room, giving him a heads up before she opens it.
[ He's waiting for her by the door, already dressed in looser clothes and bouncing from foot to foot. She gets a grin as soon as she's inside and then he really does have to do a handstand even though there isn't enough room. ]
What's the worst that could happen? I won't tell if you won't. [ He rights himself with a neat twist, and maybe he's showing off just a little in spite of the closed-in space. ]
Come on, let's get out of here. You know how long it's been since I made it out to the yard?
[ The prison slang is a joke, and he hopes a little belatedly that that's how she'll take it. ]
[Which is - true, it wouldn't really matter if she just teleported in and teleported out with Dick, but she's trying to be responsible and sensible about theses things.
She can't keep being so reckless.
Still, she smiles, and she huffs a quiet laugh at the joke, moving inside so she can put an arm around his shoulders and teleport them to the VR room. She's been a lot easier with affection in the last week or so, hoping it'll help keep Dick calmer despite the enclosed space he's found himself in.
Which is why she gives him a half-hug once they're in the VR room, before letting him go.]
[ He doesn't want to look this gift horse in the mouth; not the trip outside or the extra affection, but he's known Steph long enough now that he has to wonder what it all means. She usually has reasons, even when she doesn't want to say what they are.
But he leans into the hug because it's a hug and how can he not, and his smile doesn't slip at all when she prompts him. ] You have to ask?
[ And there's a pause while he considers. ] ...You're not gonna wig out on me again If we go back to Gotham, are you?
[ It'd be nice if they could have fun this time, just the two of them. ]
[It's playful and light, forced, but done well enough as she pretends to be insulted by that "wig out" comment.
Part of her is tempted to take them to the Cave or Wayne Manor, but that might be a little too hard right now, with what she has to say. So when she heads over to the controls, she takes them to one of the buildings that give them a good view of the city and Bludhaven across the bay. She remembers bring Jesse to the same spot, but tries not to think about it.]
It's perfect. [ And he has to think about it for a minute before he can catch his breath again, the feeling is so close. It’s so close he can almost taste the smog in the air, and in a way it doesn’t matter now to know ahead of time that it wouldn’t be real even if he could.
And the first thing he’s really tempted to do is take a flying leap off the ledge; to feel the wind in his hair and that dip in his stomach again, but he hadn’t brought a jumpline and even in a simulation that’s probably a bad idea.
But being here is good enough. For now it's good enough. ]
Just the way I remember it. [ He tilts his head again so Steph can see his grin, but he's only halfway looking at her while he shades his eyes to scan the bay for Bludhaven's lights off in the distance. ]
You know what I've always wanted to do? [ He's telling her about it whether she wants to hear it or not. ] Train surfing. On one of the big ones, not the minis.
[She hates this, because she knows she's going to have to break his good mood, but she just can't bring herself to do it yet. Unless Bruce plans on waltzing into the VR room right now, they've got a little while to enjoy themselves before she has to deliver the bad news.
So she grins.]
I reckon we could manage to find a train for you.
[One last fun thing before she has to break his heart.]
AI, can we get a grapple gun each?
[She's programmed them in, and with an affirmative little beep, Dick will find a grapple gun clipped to his belt.]
[ He jumps a little when the weight of it settles, though mostly it's so he can reach it and turn it over in his hands the moment it's there. It's probably a sign that he should've asked to look at Steph's up close sooner, that it's different than the ones he remembers. ] Is it my birthday?
[ It's really not. It's not and yet his train wish is about to come true anyway.
There's something going on here, alright. ]
It's my birthday or you dropped the DS out an airlock when I wasn't looking.
[She thinks about lying, about brushing it off with a joke, but even if she's not sure the best way to approach Dick, she can at least be honest about it, if nothing else.]
There's something we gotta talk about, we can do it now, or we can have a little fun first. It's up to you.
[She keeps her tone light enough, even though she's angry and frustrated and a little bit heartbroken.]
[ Part of him wants to chase that giddy feeling down again, hold on to it as long as he can even while he can feel those words bleeding it away.
Of course there's something else. ] Let me guess, you just remembered there's ten new Robins now. And Alfie doesn't make the doughnuts with extra cream inside anymore.
[ He's working on keeping his tone even with hers, light and flippant, like he's not sure already that whatever she has to say will be the death knell of whatever fun they could've had up here.
And he's still holding on to the grapple like it's a lifeline. ] Come on, if it's about the past can't we just...
[ It's too close, it's too soon for the way she says that not to send a chill all through him. And he can't be defensive anymore, not when he's scared for her. ] Steph?
[ A quick leap closes up the distance so he can reach out to touch her shoulder. He has to reach up, but it's meant to be gentle. Steadying. ] ...You're okay, right?
[She even smiles, and manages to make it warm instead of shaky like she feels. The hand on her shoulder helps.]
We got a couple new arrivals you'll wanna know about.
[She's not sure how he'll react to Kory, but she's decided to mention that first, since he likely won't be able to focus on anything else once she tells him about Bruce.]
New arrivals? [ Somehow the moments where he can't get a read on her at all are always the ones that set his nerves on edge. More than seeing her afraid ever could.
He wouldn't be here for good news. ]
...The one time I couldn't be there. [ The one time he'd been stuck, cooling his heels behind a closed door while Steph dealt with whatever was out there by herself. ]
So who is it? Two-Face? [ If he says it out loud maybe it's a fear that won't be true. ]
This was her first time here, but she knows you back home. Um - both identities. [Just so he's warned.] I didn't tell her you were here, thought I'd leave it up to you how you wanna deal with it, but I think she'd like to see a familiar face, even if you haven't met her yet. [a beat, and:] She seems really nice.
She knows the other guy? [ It's genuine curiosity this time more than it's worry or resentment. Somehow it just seems a little petty now, wallowing in how angry he is at someone he's never growing up to be.
He works up a smile and tries... tries hard to take what she's saying at face value. ]
Hey, who hasn't been there? I can talk to her. Last time I think she only recognized the R.
[It's said casually, but the Robin part is important, letting Dick know that even if this is someone he hasn't met, she's still not expecting the things of him that Steph or Babs do.]
I'm sure she'll appreciate that. Maybe that Starfire was from a different universe or just from earlier, but I dunno.
She told me she was a Titan. [ Which is a whole new level of weird by itself, when the Titans he knows are only weeks old. They're just getting started, he only has four members to look after, and sometimes even that many had felt like too much responsibility. ]
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text
[ it doesn't happen often, and when it does it's harder each time to resist the needling itch to take a step outside unaccompanied. Just to do flips in the hallway, just to do one good handstand.
But Steph would be upset if he did, so he'd been curbing the feeling this time with some DS instead, curled on his bed with his tablet at his side.
Only Steph wouldn't text him if it wasn't important, she'd be here in person. ]
what happened
text
i'm gonna talk to ros about borrowing you for an hour or so. we'll go to a vr room, i figure we could both use the oppportunity to stretch our legs
text
jeez why didn't you say so i'll be ready in two minutes
[ he sure is going to put on work out clothes. ]
text - > action??
i'll be there in five
[Sorry she really did have to discuss things with Rosyln first, but five minutes later she's knocking on the door to Dick's room, giving him a heads up before she opens it.
She tries to keep her expression neutral.]
Ready to go, kiddo?
action!!
What took you so long?
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I had to make sure Ros wasn't gonna get mad at me for stealing you. I'm trying to, you know, respect her authority and stuff.
[keyword: try]
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Come on, let's get out of here. You know how long it's been since I made it out to the yard?
[ The prison slang is a joke, and he hopes a little belatedly that that's how she'll take it. ]
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[Which is - true, it wouldn't really matter if she just teleported in and teleported out with Dick, but she's trying to be responsible and sensible about theses things.
She can't keep being so reckless.
Still, she smiles, and she huffs a quiet laugh at the joke, moving inside so she can put an arm around his shoulders and teleport them to the VR room. She's been a lot easier with affection in the last week or so, hoping it'll help keep Dick calmer despite the enclosed space he's found himself in.
Which is why she gives him a half-hug once they're in the VR room, before letting him go.]
There anywhere you wanna go in particular?
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But he leans into the hug because it's a hug and how can he not, and his smile doesn't slip at all when she prompts him. ] You have to ask?
[ And there's a pause while he considers. ] ...You're not gonna wig out on me again If we go back to Gotham, are you?
[ It'd be nice if they could have fun this time, just the two of them. ]
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[It's playful and light, forced, but done well enough as she pretends to be insulted by that "wig out" comment.
Part of her is tempted to take them to the Cave or Wayne Manor, but that might be a little too hard right now, with what she has to say. So when she heads over to the controls, she takes them to one of the buildings that give them a good view of the city and Bludhaven across the bay. She remembers bring Jesse to the same spot, but tries not to think about it.]
How's that?
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And the first thing he’s really tempted to do is take a flying leap off the ledge; to feel the wind in his hair and that dip in his stomach again, but he hadn’t brought a jumpline and even in a simulation that’s probably a bad idea.
But being here is good enough. For now it's good enough. ]
Just the way I remember it. [ He tilts his head again so Steph can see his grin, but he's only halfway looking at her while he shades his eyes to scan the bay for Bludhaven's lights off in the distance. ]
You know what I've always wanted to do? [ He's telling her about it whether she wants to hear it or not. ] Train surfing. On one of the big ones, not the minis.
[ Not the subway Bruce had him training on. ]
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So she grins.]
I reckon we could manage to find a train for you.
[One last fun thing before she has to break his heart.]
AI, can we get a grapple gun each?
[She's programmed them in, and with an affirmative little beep, Dick will find a grapple gun clipped to his belt.]
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[ It's really not. It's not and yet his train wish is about to come true anyway.
There's something going on here, alright. ]
It's my birthday or you dropped the DS out an airlock when I wasn't looking.
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There's something we gotta talk about, we can do it now, or we can have a little fun first. It's up to you.
[She keeps her tone light enough, even though she's angry and frustrated and a little bit heartbroken.]
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Of course there's something else. ] Let me guess, you just remembered there's ten new Robins now. And Alfie doesn't make the doughnuts with extra cream inside anymore.
[ He's working on keeping his tone even with hers, light and flippant, like he's not sure already that whatever she has to say will be the death knell of whatever fun they could've had up here.
And he's still holding on to the grapple like it's a lifeline. ] Come on, if it's about the past can't we just...
[ Just not. Just this once. ]
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It's not about the past.
[It's about Bruce showing up here. About the wrong Bruce showing up here.]
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[ A quick leap closes up the distance so he can reach out to touch her shoulder. He has to reach up, but it's meant to be gentle. Steadying. ] ...You're okay, right?
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[She even smiles, and manages to make it warm instead of shaky like she feels. The hand on her shoulder helps.]
We got a couple new arrivals you'll wanna know about.
[She's not sure how he'll react to Kory, but she's decided to mention that first, since he likely won't be able to focus on anything else once she tells him about Bruce.]
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He wouldn't be here for good news. ]
...The one time I couldn't be there. [ The one time he'd been stuck, cooling his heels behind a closed door while Steph dealt with whatever was out there by herself. ]
So who is it? Two-Face? [ If he says it out loud maybe it's a fear that won't be true. ]
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[She keeps her tone light, wry, as if she doesn't have terrible news to deliver.]
Have you met Starfire, back home?
[She really hopes he has, because that might be a little bit of good news to soften the blow of what's coming.]
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Oh, you mean- she has red hair, right? And she can fly? [ It's a strange and distant memory, but she's a pretty girl and those tend to stick. ]
I don't know her from home. We only met the one time, and it was here. She's back again?
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[It's kind of amazing.]
This was her first time here, but she knows you back home. Um - both identities. [Just so he's warned.] I didn't tell her you were here, thought I'd leave it up to you how you wanna deal with it, but I think she'd like to see a familiar face, even if you haven't met her yet. [a beat, and:] She seems really nice.
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He works up a smile and tries... tries hard to take what she's saying at face value. ]
Hey, who hasn't been there? I can talk to her. Last time I think she only recognized the R.
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[It's said casually, but the Robin part is important, letting Dick know that even if this is someone he hasn't met, she's still not expecting the things of him that Steph or Babs do.]
I'm sure she'll appreciate that. Maybe that Starfire was from a different universe or just from earlier, but I dunno.
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But she's not even the only one.
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