Bat Outta Hell

Summary:
October 24 2014: Bobby, Tim, Kitty and Spoiler have an unusual high flying adventure in Gotham

Midtown Rooftops

The usual place for superheroics in Gotham


Characters

NPCs

  • None

Mood Music:
[* None]


Gotham is not one of Bobby Drake's usual haunts. It also has positively awful traffic, which is why Bobby is ice-ramping across the city at rooftop height. The better to A) Not be seen and B) Not get shanked. He eventually stops around Midtown. This whole metahuman trafficking thing is being looked into by others but he thought it couldn't hurt to zip around and have a little look see. He found the first instance of it completely by accident after all. It's not the best plan he's ever had, true, and he's not particularly expecting to find anything but he feels like he should be doing something.

-

Unlike Bobby, Gotham is Robin's most frequent haunt, and rooftops are his favourite perch. The Bird, as he's loveably been nicknamed, crouches on the edge of one of Midtowns taller buildings. Tricks of shadow and dark conceal him, granting a measure of stealth against the many buildings and street lamps. That is, until the wind catches the edge of his cape, causing it to flap in breeze, catching the current with a very distinct leathern sound.

He straightens to a stand as his eyes squint across Gotham's skyline, eyes honing in on the shapes and patterns of the world around, and ultimately gaze resting on Bobby. He inhales a deep breath, a moment's hesitation as he does so, but doesn't draw attention to himself, save for the flag he apparently wears on his back.

-

Bobby isn't a detective nor really a vigilante. He's a scientist who sometimes does heroic things with his friends. So he doesn't see or hear Tim until the snap of his cape alerts him to the other, younger Man's approach. The ice nerd is dressed casual. Jeans, button up shirt. Looks warm ish though not nearly enough for the weather and wind up here. Then again, icy guy probably isn't bothered much by the cold. His hands raise up, frosting momentarily before he recognizes the Bird and puts on a broad grin.

"Oh hey." He teases. "I remember you. You're the guy with the clown fetish."

-

There's a slight upturn of Robin's lips at Bobby's grin, but it presses into cool neutrality at the joke. No, he's not impressed with the assessment of his supposed clown fetish, which, evidently he will never live down. Just the same, Bobby gets a greeting in reply, a very weighty, "Hey," is returned. His face scrunches from behind his mask thoughtfully and then he asks, "Aren't you a little far from home, Drake?" Yup, still weird calling someone else by his last name.

-

"Maybe." Drake winks. "Depends on where you think I live." His residence is not publically available information. His place of work is in New York though, so there is that.

"Nice night for roof top parkour mmm? Or at last that's what I'm assuming from your presence here."

-

Tim squints at Iceboy and takes a few steps towards the ledge. "Well I don't think you live in Gotham," he says with a shrug. "Although… I guess embassies aren't technically in Gotham, are they?" He manages a lopsided grin and a shrug of his shoulders. With a faint chuckle, his head shakes, "Nah. Not parkour. Patrol. Always something to look for in Gotham. All times of day. Night just happens to be the worst of it."

-

Bobby shrugs. Vigilante patrol mmm? He can't really fault the guy. Things are plenty bad in Gotham and he knows people who do more or less the same on a more global scale. "I see. Found anything tonight? I was just zipping around to see if maybe there was any more obvious metahuman smuggling. Not that I'd necessarily know what to look for. I'm a lab rat, not a masked vigilante." Who loves clowns. He doesn't say it. But he thinks it.

-

"Besides some punk kids, a few thugs, bad drug deals, and a purse snatcher?" Robin replies as if all of this is just a normal day. "Nothing really unusual." He shrugs and takes another step towards the buildings edge, such that his toes actually protrude over it. "Nothing obvious on this end as far as the metahuman smuggling is concerned — not that I've seen anyways. And I've put our people on the lookout for it." His lips edge downwards into a frown, "But, to be honest, if they're smart, they'll find different routes into the city than the one we already interrupted."

-

"Your best bet is probably to see where their last set of victims came from. Concentrations of mutants large enough to be worthwhile and small or remote enough for that kind of thing to go unremakred aren't all that common, or at least that's my understanding. Unless whomever is doing it has a global reach, you're probably looking at them all being from the same geographic area. And even if your people can't get out that way, I've got a fairly good notion who might be able to do so. Just don't ask who. I can't say." Bobby flashes 'Robin' a grin. "Another thought would be to track the chemical they were using. If its home grown you may be able to track purchases for the components. They'd need a lot. Otherwise, it's a schedule I or II narcotic and there are only so many sorces for those. If you have the resources, see whose been buying what and look for suspicious patterns or purchases."

-

"To be honest, I have no access to the data," which is actually Robin's biggest problem. "Oracle, to my knowledge, has so far had a hard time tracking whoever ended up with it, and, based on what we've concluded, the Feds seemed to get their hands on it. So. Working backwards from my perspective is kind of a shot in the dark." His eyes narrow. His arms cross over his chest. "I might be able to track the victims down with some work. Maybe. Possibly."

-

"Assuming some of my contacts haven't tried to pick them up already. They get… gung ho about that. I could ask. Might take a bit to hear back." Bobby admits. So the both of them are rather working in the dark. "So tell me, do you ever go out without the mask and flashy getup?" Capes? Bobby's not one to judge but… really? A cape?

-

"Fair enough," Robin replies as his gloved hand runs over his chin. The notion of going out as Tim and not Robin merits a lopsided grin, "Yeah. I wear this so I can do the other." he finally steps back from the ledge, seemingly deciding that there's nothing to see on street level for the time being, "Whatever taste you've gotten of Gotham has probably told you this place is… well, something else. If I didn't have this," he motions meaningfully towards his face, "well, I wouldn't be able to have a life at all. This gives me freedom during the day. It's not perfect, but it's what I can do."

-

"I'd like to point out that the last time I saw you in that getup was in central park, during the day." Bobby returns Tim's grin. "But your point is well taken. I dunno. I get it, I do. For me it's always been a question of what I stand for. 'Course, it's a bit different for me, but I can't champion mutants in any capacity, can't even be a role model or anything like that, if I can't show my face. Some of my folks disagree. I get it but…" He shakes his head. "They've been at it for years and we're no closer to a solution to mutant rights and acceptance. Probably a bit different for you but I can't help but see some similarites, y'know?"

-

"Because you met me as Robin," he counters as his arms tighten over his chest again. "And I'm not the only one who is effected if people know both of me. I am, after all," his tone teeters on bitter, "what my mentor made me." Despite that hint of bitterness, he fights it and shoots Bobby a weaker smile. "Plus we're in Gotham, the police would be apt to arrest us in either life." He begins pacing the ledge instead of just lingering near it.

-

Bobby shrugs a shoulder. "That may be oversimplifying it on my end." Not that he really expects Robin to know, though. That wouldn't quite be fair. "Anyway, like I was saying I'm sure it's di- wait a second. Did you hear something?"

There's… something in the air. Yes. The flap of wings. Bobby turns around, peering in the night sky until he sees some… shapes? Against the starry night? He steps a bit away from Tim to peer and get a better look. They're… getting larger. And closer… and they're…

Bats?

Correction. They're bats the size of volkswagons. And they're carrying something on their backs.

-

Gotham is not normally Kitty's territory. She can count on one hand the amount of times she's been to the city that hosts the Bat. However, she is investigating and investigating means attempting to keep out of sight. Of all the rooftops in all the city, Kitty finds herself near Tim and Bobby's. She doesn't call out of them - she doesn't know Tim and doesn't know why the pair of them are meeting on a rooftop.

Instead, her attention is drawn to the sky. Oh yes, she does hear something and her eyes widen when she sees what exactly it is coming toward them. "What the…"

-

The sound, and Bobby's attention drawn to it, gives the Bird pause. Robin's chin lifts, his eyes train on the sky above, and his lips part wordlessly. "That. Can't be good," he murmurs quietly before allowing his tongue to roll over his lips. He turns back to Bobby and then notes, "And that is most definitely unusual — but not the kind of unusual related to metahuman trafficking — "

-

The bats let out a shriek - there's about eight of them all told, and begin to dive on the little knot on the rooftops. On them are figures that turn out to be some kind of hobgoblin. They're armed with crude bows and bolas and they appear to be hunting. More than that, they appear to have found their prey. Bobby throws himself out of the way of a swipe and his eyes widen. "Oh hell." He sends a spray of ice up toward the remaining group, causing them to swerve and veer. Of course, this only puts them into a circle.

-

"What the…!" Kitty jumps forward across the rooftops to close the difference between herself and The two others. She reaches forward to grab at both Bobby and Tim before phasing, giving them a few moments to come up with a plan without worrying about arrows and bolas raining down on the should they not fight her grip.

"Why, hello, boys," she replies with a smile. "Fancy meeting you here. I take it these guys aren't friends of yours?" With a glance at Bobby, she tilts her head to Tim in a questioning 'who is this' gesture.

-

Robin's fingers track to his utility belt and extract one of the batarangs clipped to it. Nimbly he frisbees it through the air towards one of the creatures. The device itself, like many of the bat-toys attached to Tim's belt, emits a strong electrical current — much like a taser — designed to shock, and incapacitate most who it would hit. There's no telling what it would do to a giant bat hobgoblin thing, but it's what Robin has at the ready.

But he doesn't get an opportunity to see the fruits of his labour, in fact he's being pulled away and he's suddenly somewhere else. Which prompts the vaguest shake of his head, "So cool."

-

Rooftops is one of Spoiler's preferred locations, and there is a flash of purp… I mean Aubergine as she appears, hurling a spinning piece of metal towards one of the creatures, aiming for its throat, her glance at them brief as Kitty grabs the pair. She crouches down behind the chimney nearby, watching the results of everyone's actions with interest.

-

The giant bat is stunned and lands in a skid at Tim's feet, well passing through Tim's feet to skid on the other side. A pair of hobgoblins hop off it with knives at the ready. One of them is instantly mostly encased in ice but the second one goes right for Spoiler whose flung piece of metal clipped the wing of a second bat and sends it spiralling to the rooftops as well. Kitty and Tim both have plenty of arrows and bolas and… are those lassos? Not strictly aiming to kill, they seem to want live prey.

-

At the flash of metal, Kitty glances over to where the hobgoblins attempt either hurt or maim Spoiler. "Over here," she gestures with her chin, keeping a hold on the other two to ensure they'll remain phased with her. "Unless you both care to make our way over? Or we could go the solid route for a bit, depending." Her eyes follow the lassos for a short while. "Anyone know what's up with these guys?"

-

Robin's cape is held out defensively, even in a phased state. He frowns as he shakes his head, "I don't know. There's been weird things in Gotham lately." Not limited to chaos itself. The notion of Spoiler changes his tune, "We need to help her," it's not a question.

-

Spoiler is a little busy, her focus on the hobgoblin heading for her. She rises to her feet, facing it, a stick appearing in her hands, facing the creature without seemingly flinching. She waits for it to approach and then spins, a foot lifting to kick out, her spin aiming a stick to what might be its midriff, and she lands in a crouch, tucking her arms closer.

-

The two goblins trying to take on Spoiler are really a faint. Two of the bats peel off and their passengers fling lassos at Spoiler, aiming to snare her and haul her off her feet and away. Right about that time Bobby moves from Kitty's grasp and ice ramps up to another bat, landing on it's back. Escrima versus bat-borne goblins round one! Fight!

Another trio swoop low at Tim and Kitty, apparently not having gotten the memo that Kitty's holding Tims are for seeing and not touching. It might be kind of frustring for them. The two bats stunned by respectively Tim and Steph are starting to get up, albiet without their riders.

-

"Lately?" Kitty can't help but raise an eyebrow and make the dig. "Of course," she tells Tim. As Bobby pulls free from her grasp, she keeps a hold on Tim and nods. "Keep a hold on and we'll go and grab her." With only that warning, she heads off to run to Spoiler's side, possibly dragging Tim along for the ride. "You can throw things, if you want," she tells him as she goes. "As soon as you're not touching it any more, it'll be solid."

-

A lassoo is apparently problematic, Spoiler's feet caught as she hits the deck, a flailing movement before her breath leaves her, and she slides along, a captured thing. You can thump along the rooftops, hitting everything in the way, it seems

-

"Weirder than normal," Robin quips back as he's dragged away with Kitty. And the suggestion has him reaching to his belt and hurling more batarangs at the onslaught. Two are frisbee'd in quick succession, materializing as they leave his grasp. "Way too cool," he murmurs to himself.

His brain works through what else is in the belt just as Spoiler is getting roped. Forget being dragged. "Gotta go — " because when ones girlfriend is being hauled away by hobgoblins riding on giant bats, this is the only response. His fingers reach to his belt, and thanks to muscle memory more than thought, they grasp his grapple gun. With a very simple shrug of his shoulders, he fires it at Spoiler's assailant and then, by chance, hits the button. Whether the rope pulls Robin to the assailant or the assailant to Robin is anyone's guess. This could just result in a comedy of errors.

-

One does not go riding Giant bats without being secured to them, as Bobby is now discovering, playing a game of arial chicken with a pair of saddle tied, knife mounted hobgoblins. Unfortunately this does mean that while Spoilers would be captor is now very uncomfortable it's Robin who goes flying and not the rider. All of the bats turn now, the ones ridden and riderless and make for the sea in an odd double line formation. One of the riderless ones is going to pass right next to Kitty…

-

"I see." No longer holding on to Tim, Kitty puts on a burst of speed. "And thanks!" She can't help but grin when people compliment her mutant ability. With both hands free, she reaches to her side and unsheathes her katana. Many people would say you shouldn't run with swords, but she's been trained to do just that for a few years. The Shadowcat launches herself into the air right as one of the riderless bats flies past her. WhiIt's not a perfect jump - but she can hopefully hold on long enough to pull herself into a proper sitting position.

-

Spoiler makes an inelegant noise as she thuds against a wall, and her hand finds the rope, clinging to it as she tries to climb up the rope holding her. Ropes go both ways, and sometimes you can reach the top of them. She launches herself at the hobgoblins, aiming to push at least one of them from the ride.

-

It's a good thing Tim Drake is not afraid of heights, because now he's clung to a hobgoblin assailant. He flicks a button, closing the distance entirely between himself and the creature which the grappling hook holds tight to. He releases one hand from the gun and allows it to drop to his side, seeking out his bow staff and flicking it to its full length with a good shake. "Good thing I didn't miss arm day," he murmurs with some effort as his grip tightens around the gun. The staff is at the ready to knock at the bat's rider when he gets close enough.

-

The goblin know's it's been grappled but between spoiler coming up to wrestle the pilot and Tim winching up to wrestle the copilot, it's going to be tricky. SO tricky in fact that it's not long before Tim and Spoiler have control of their bat. Which leaves them in the front of a bunch of hostile bow armed bats which are following them.

City chase, anyone?

Bobby finally gains control of his bat and steers it over to Kitty. "Our cosplaying friends there look like they may need a hand. What'dya say Kitty? Shall we go all Harry Potter on 'em? Or in your case, Game of Thrones?"

Arrows are already starting to launch Tim and Steph's way.

-

Steph crawls forward, her balance precarious as she reaches Robin. "Can you steer this thing?" The shout is over the sound, as she ducks an arrow, her eyes wide.

-

As Kitty gains control of her bat, she grins at Bobby. "Well, you know what they say, Bobby. Winter is Coming!" It's a good enough battle cry as far as she's concerned. Steering her bat forward and over, she calls back, "It's times like this I wish I took up archery instead!" Because with a sword, she'll have to get in close to try and take out the hobgoblins trying to make pin cushions out of Spoiler and Tim. It's hard going, but she thinks she knows how to get her bat to move one way and another. Keeping them both phased, she attempts to move in close and swipe at the lashings that ties one of the goblins to his bat.

-

"HA!" Robin replies as he sinks lower to the bat. "I am so glad we actually have bats in the batcave," he mumbles, never having developed squicked-out feelings for the flying rodents. "Use the cape as a shield for the arrows — not perfect, but it's better than anything we've got!" He passes her his bow staff. "Hit 'em as they come!" His kevlar should offer some measure of protection to him, maybe not perfect protection, but it's better than a lot of things.

"Uh, just in case I crash us and we die, I told Batman about us — " His gloved hands tug at the bat's jowls, memory of horseback riding at private school reminding him to use the bit. "Huh," he murmurs as his hands find pegs near the base of the neck. "Well, and I thought riding was a waste of time. Score one for Jack," he mutters as he tugs the peg right, then left, seeing the bat respond in kind. "Alright! Steph? Hold on — " the instruction is murmured as he pushes the peg downward, basically making the bat make a nose dive.

-

"You did WHAT?!" The shriek distracts Steph, and she slides across their ride, before she snags a grip, the nose dive distracting her from the utter romance of Tim's throw away comment. Life over love. She climbs back up, wrapping her arms around his waist, her cheek against his back, "Your timing sucks." Her voice is muffled, the holding on slightly delayed.

-

Down into the steel and concrete canyons of downtown Gotham they go. Arrows zing and zip by the Bat-Bat! (Maybe Tim should give it to Bruce when he's done?) A few come close enough that Steph probably needs to do something about them. There are bolas in the saddlebags on either side of hers, in case she gets any ideas and gets tired of being shot at.

Bobby keeps his Bat high while Kitty dives in. The the two immediately to Tim and Steph's left he begins to pepper with ice shards. Finding that to be effective only in annoying the giant bats, he manifests a large ice Lance and dives in as well.

Kitty has good shots at wings, limbs and goblins as she dives in. Just a question of what she wants to hit. Oh! And not smacking into buildings.

-

It's the smacking into buildings that mostly concerns Kitty. While she's insubstantial she'll go right through them, but it's hard for her to maintain her power while actively moving through things. Especially if one of those things is a skyscraper. Turning solid for just a moment, she swipes at the wing of a bat as well as the ties that are keeping the hobgoblin tied to his saddle. Hopefully one of those will land and either the bat will fall or the hobgoblin will.

Turning intangible again, she attempts to steer her unruly bat back upward and away from the goblins. And around a building.

-

Steph is cast a small smirk over Robin's shoulder, but Tim has to focus on flying the darned giant-bat so his attention turns very quickly back to the front. "My timing is flawless!" he counters, and she can virtually hear his grin when he says it. He once more has the bat bank left then a quick right in an effort to maneuver the giant rodent thing like someone might a fighter jet to avoid incoming missiles. "Just like riding a bike — " he's half-tempted to make engine noises. For Steph's benefit he doesn't. Plus there's no telling if he remembered to shut his comlink off.

A yelp suggests Spoiler is hit, and she keeps one arm around Robin, reaching down for the saddlebag, drawing out the bolas. She spins it over her head, hurling it at those shooting at them, her gaze flickering at Kitty as she does so. Very tired of being shot at, it seems, "Robin, fly closer to them, I can jump across…"

-

Another cry, this time from Bobby suggests he's hit too. There's no chance to see how badly though because his Bat and another are promptly tangled up, joined by a sharp ice lance in Cool Drake's right hand. One that's going through one and a half goblin's. Getting it back is proving to be problematic though and both Bats descend momentarily dropping from sight. Kitty ends up clipping a corner and probably startling the junior executive to whom it belongs as they wing through at well below helicopter levels through the crowded midair city-scape. Her goblin is not so fortunate, falling from the saddle as the bat smacks into the corner behind her and goes spinning out of sight. Two down, three to go.

Steph has managed to tangle up one of the goblins. It won't be shooting at her again. If she can just get closer…

-

"Bobby? You okay?" The cry from the icemaker is met immediately with a glance behind her to make sure the man is okay. Another glance is given to Spoiler after hearing her own cry of pain. She doesn't know the woman's name, though, so it's hard to ask after her other than visually affirm she's still upright.

It turns out turning around is not the best thing to do while steering a bat that doesn't want to be steered. Though phased as she is, the bat clips through the building, slowing down their chase and throwing Kitty forward. The bat tumbles forward and she quickly attempts to land it so she can fall onto a roof without breaking something.

-

"Are you okay," the words aren't quite a question as Tim assesses the situation a little more carefully. As far as getting closer to them though… "Yes ma'am," Robin murmurs as he pulls back on the pegs, effectively slowing the creature down. "Huh." Seemingly getting the hang of flying one of these things, he gives the pegs a sharp tug, and with a kick of his boot, he has them doubling back so Steph can get close enough to the goblin Spoiler has just tangled up.

-

Steph breaks the arrow off, making a soft sound of pain, before she replies, "Sure!" Her hand vanishes from around his waist, as she slithers to the edge of the creature, pushing off into a leap through the space, to land sharply onto the other creature, a shove sending her goblin over the edge, down to the earth. Spoiler turns, balancing on the creature, seeking other dangers.

-

Three down, two to go. Kitty veers off chasing one that tries to run as Bobby's Bat rises. His forearm is pretty bloody. There's just one goblin Bat now and three friendlies. Bobby maneuvers to box the thing in, aiming to herd it toward a collision with a wall. It jerks and veers away, trying to get between Tim and Steph.

-

Now the sole occupant on his bat, Robin reaches into the bag where the bolas are kept and he flies towards the bat trying to get between him and Spoiler. He spins the weapon in his hand and gives it a solid throw towards the hobgoblin aiming to come between him and Steph.

-

Thunk, goes Robin's bola, tangling up the bat's pilot.

Thud, goes the bat, which then begins a long tumble down to the street below, leaving Bobby to veer off sharply to avoid the same collision. He rejoins the two in the otherwise empty skies on the other side of the building. "You two okay? Don't think I got your name there, Purple Avenger." Which, if she doesn't provide one, will totally be her name. Bobby's armored up at the moment, encased in a 'suit' of ice.

-

Spoiler seems to have a bat, and she copies Robin's movements, steering it to join Robin, and Bobby, her voice lifted. "Spoiler." Then more loudly, "You can call me Spoiler." She lands her creature on the rooftop, struggling to keep control of it. "You?" The curiousity is obvious, and she slants Robin a look, adding words of snark to her introduction, "Gee Robin, your timing is impeccable. You couldn't keep the romance until things weren't shooting at us?"

-

There's a curious pull of Tim's face behind his mask at Spoiler's question. "I didn't.. I wasn't trying to be romantic," he counters with a wrinkle of his forehead, defensive, and just a little squarely in response. "I." His cheeks flush and his gaze turns downwards. "Do we know what these things are? Any shred of evidence about why they're here and chose to attack Gotham tonight?"

-

"I told you. I'm a scientist, not a detective." Bobby grimaces as he rather roughly lands his own Bat, keeping a firm grip on the pegs to keep it doing anything unfortunte. "But, my finely honed scientific instincts tell me that bats the size of cars being ridden by mishappen elves are not f-ing normal." Yes. The Ice Nerd can snark.

"I have a better question." Beat. "What are you and Spoiler going to do with yours?"

-

"Gee, I wonder why I would be looking for romance from a boyfriend." Sarcasm, as she leans over her pegs, to watch the pair of them. "Well I can't take mine home, it wouldn't fit in with the decor…." A touch of snark to it, and she considers, "Where did they come from?"

-

"Right," Robin replies to Bobby. "Anything magic, otherworldly, or altogether rideable bat is not exactly my realm of expertise," he shrugs. "But I can ask some folks. Like I said, some real weird stuff has been going down here lately — " not that Tim gets into the details there.

There's a chuckle at question. "Uh. I thought I'd take it to the Batcave." He turns to look at Spoiler, "Batman revoked the OtherRobin's access. So there's no fear of him riding around Gotham on a giant bat." Because the image of Damian on a bat is something everyone should fear, obviously. There's also the possibility of Titans' Castle. But that isn't supposed to exist. So he doesn't mention it.

"Hey! I don't do so bad in the romance department… do I?" Spoiler's question is met with a faint shrug and Tim point upwards, "Nowhere pretty much. There was these druids that tried to free the cat part of Vorpal with the human part of Vorpal and they managed to do it." There's a long pause. "I have no idea if this is related. We should ask someone who understands.. giants bats. And goblins." Because Tim understands neither. Even if the giant bat is Batman.

-

"You're asking me?" Bobby shrugs. "Kinda sounds like magic, doesn't it. Say, Robin, you're part of the Titans aren't you? Didn't that girl Rachel join up? And those two not-quite-stage magicians?" Clearly, the man with the contacts here is Tim.

-

"He revoked Damian's access? How did he take that?" The surprised question is perhaps more revealing, and she is reminded, "Is Vorpal alright?" She glances at Bobby, her eyebrows arching upwards, "Who are you?" The question is blunt, and she sits up, holding the pegs on the creature. "Want to take mine with you?" Because no Spoilers in the batcave.

-

"Rachel?" Robin repeats as he squints hard. "Well there's definitely those magician types," because the Zataras are in all senses of the word, magicians. "Yeah, does sound like magic to me. And at the very least, I can follow up with them and the rest of the Titans." The name Damian causes Tim's expression to deaden and his lips to part. "Uh," he starts and then shakes his head. "We'll talk about that later." Because evidently there's things to talk about. Later.

He watches the bat and shrugs. "I guess I can try. Or we could take it to the Titans' new base. Which Vorpal asked me to invite you to join — "

-

Bobby chuckles and gives Spoiler a mock salute. "Bobby Drake, at your service. When I'm not holding onto a murderous bat. I think I'll just drop this one off in the Zoo. Make it a nice ice cage. Zoologists can figure it out from there. I sure has hell don't have any place to keep it." Nudging the bat into flight he spares another wave for the two. "Been an interesting night. I need to get my arm seen to. You two stay safe. See you 'round."

-

"Later. Always later." Snark, and Steph waves a hand, shooting Bobby a curious look, "Lead on then, and we'll give them a present. Nice to meet you Bobby, good luck!" She reaches down, her arm extended to wrap her fingers around her leg, "Robin, can we go? I think my leg is still bleeding and these boots don't go well with red."

-

"Take it easy, Drake," Robin calls back to Bobby with a small wave — he will never get used to that. Towards Steph, Tim nods. "Yeah. We'll get you checked out and fixed up. I have stuff in the belt, or we can go see Oracle." There's a pause. "I'm sure they'd love to see giant bats." Who wouldn't.

-

Steph crouches over the controls of her beast, flying it behind Robin, her face sober. "The belt would be enough." She doesn't want to go to the Clocktower, or the batcave, avoiding the batfamily for now. "I've got to get home, mum doesn't know I'm out…"

-

"Alright," Tim replies softly with a faint sigh. In another lifetime Robin was probably a boy scout. Robin, the icon, that is, not Tim in particular. He reaches into the belt, and takes out the few first aid supplies he needs. "I can patch you up — "

-

"Let's get the birds landed somewhere less obvious." Steph replies, her voice quieter, her head shaking, before she crouches over theneck of the beast.

-

There's silence from the Bird, proper, as he twists the pegs and considers a place to land. As usual rooftop wins out—they're a dime a dozen in Gotham, and far enough from wandering eyes. Robin steers the bat with the pegs and seeks out one of the large buildings on the block, giving them fewer eyes to watch. He brings it in for a landing and steps away, shaking his head at the giant bat as he does so. "So weird," he mutters.

-

Spoiler follows suit, landing it, and then sliding from its back. She limps across to Robin, putting out her hand, "I can do it." The stubbornness that keeps her coming out in the aubergine cape is there in her eyes again, her face serious. "How are you? The hallucinations and all, they're gone now?"

-

"Better," Robin replies easily enough as he relinquishes the first aid supplies, seemingly deciding it better to leave Steph to her machinations. "Given the all clear there." He sighs softly as his hands drop to his side. He pauses as he turns back to look at the giant bats, "They are there, right?" His eyebrows arch upwards. "Because I did have a moment where I questioned myself all over again."

-

"No, I flew in on thin air." She takes the first aid supplies, settling herself on a ledge, the wince as she rolls her trouser leg up obvious. "Those are there." Her voice is quiet, her blonde hair falling forward as she digs her fingers into the wound, tugging out an arrow head, her skin paling as she does so. "Better is good."

-

Robin steps to her and watches intently, "Let me help you? Please?" But he's not going to force the issue. Not after the last few days. Tim isn't in a forcing mood. "I did tell him, you know. Like actually." His cheeks flush a little and he shrugs. He finally sits down on the ledge. "So. Damian. And not Robin. I…" his eyes narrow. "What was that?"

-

Steph turns her head, looking at him, before she leans back, offering him the supplies. "Alright." She isn't enjoying the whole experience, and it shows, her skin pale. "Damian because you are Robin. I've met him." She shrugs, leaning back on her elbows, watching him, her blue eyes serious over the mask. "So how did He take it?

-

"To be honest I have no idea," Tim replies as he shifts to perform the first aid. His fingers reach around the arrowhead to pull it out the rest of the way. "I haven't been around much for a few days." He tugs off his Robin gloves and then opens an alcohol swipe, "This is going to sting a little." He very gently goes back to work. "But Batman wasn't happy at the liberties he's been taking. And I only overheard the conversation about it. There's a pause, "Did you know he gave Keith a brick of heroine as a get well present?"

"I didn't know how Keith was…" The quiet reply is through clenched teeth, her eyes closing at the stinging pain in her leg. "Where've you been?" The question is a switch away from talk about Damian, the little colour in her cheeks fading. "Mum is home." That comment is information, flatly given, her mother only just released from the hospital ward after that incident.

-

"I didn't know you knew his real name," Tim says as he disposes of the alcohol swab. His face scrunches together. "I've been around Gotham, but not — not the batcave. And also at the Titans new base. They were serious about you joining if you wanted to. Just. So you know." He nods at the comment about her mom. "And how are you doing with her home?"

Finally, he addresses the first as he dresses her wound with the gauze and wrap from his belt. "Keith isn't doing well. The cat demon thing that gave him superpowers is now free in Gotham, and Keith is dying." Despite himself, Tim's voice cracks around the last, prompting him to refocus on his work.

-

"I'll go see him. We have to do something, catch it…" The leg under his hands tenses, as if Steph would do that right now, her mother forgotten, Keith's kindness recalled well. "He told me his name." Damian addressed, she moves on, "I don't know them, Tim, I'll see.. I'll meet them first. Are you alright with it? I mean, you spent so much time sending me home." Her mother… well that topic is ignored, an attempt to avoid.

-

"When did he tell you his name, Steph?" Tim asks quietly as he tidies up the rest of the items. Evidently this isn't a topic that's not going to die easily. He emits a quiet sigh about Keith, and then nods his head, "Lots of folks are working on it, but more hands would be good, I think. Lots of leads, but nothing that's managed to turn into something real."

The question is met with a flicker of a smile. "I know. And I don't have to like it; your choices are your own." There's a pause. "I feel like we talked about this at the storage locker. I want to support you and get you what you need to be able to do it well. I'd like to train you if you'll have me."

-

"When I told him he wasn't Robin, my Robin." The answer is quiet and she shakes her head, dismissing Damian from her mind, her cheeks gaining a little colour. "I'd… like that." She is almost suspicious, certainly wary, "That was just before you collapsed, telling me the creatures were coming for me, remember. It wasn't your sanest moment." She tests her leg, rising to her feet, and nods, shooting him a look. "You can't tell me you'd be a bit confused by your girlfriend telling you she loves you, and oh, btw the way, the world has gone all wibbly, and there are these creatures coming to get us… "

-

There's a pink hue to Robin's cheeks as he shrugs. "There's weirder things," he glances over his shoulder towards the giant bats. "I barely believe they're real." The smile fades though as his fingers rake through his hair, "Yeah. Sorry about that." His eyebrows draw together. "It was a gesture. Maybe not my best. Sorry." He sighs. "I was trying to make it a gesture of the 'oh you're special to me' variety. Maybe it was dumb." His lips twist to the side thoughtfully before tagging on. "Also. Thanks. For that."

-

She steps closer, giving him a look, one that studies him and considers his words. She lifts her hand, tugging the mask down from her face, her lips revealed as curving into a smile. "It was a lovely gesture and I haven't said thank you." She steps in, reaching up to hold his cheeks, her kiss a definitely clear thank you, a serious snog given without warning.

-

As usual, the kiss catches Tim off-guard, and his eyes widen at the contact until they squeeze shut while he reciprocates the kiss. When it's broken, he whispers, "Steph. I do love you." And now he's said it while definitively not under the influence of hallucinogens. His eyes close and he takes a deep breath. "And if you're doing this whole hero thing, I want you to be safe and successful at it. If you want training, I'll give you what I can." There's a pause. "The training is sort of Batman-endorsed. So, I'm going to see what I can do about getting you kevlar," this will likely involve going back to the batcave to not speak to Bruce some more.

-

"I love you too, Tim." Tim and Steph, Spoiler and Robin. The next words widen her eyes and she stares up at him, blinking blankly for an instant. "Endorsed? He said you could train me? That you could give me stuff?" The surprise is obvious, Robin catching the cynical woman off guard, and it shows. She is startled out of kissing him for thanks…

-

"Sort of," Tim's cheeks flush some more. "Enough that I think I can make some good arguments that I can give you stuff." His no longer gloved hand rubs at the stubble beginning to form on his chin, "He's not thrilled about it, but has said either I should convince you to quit or train you." Tim may have no idea where he and Bruce stand at the moment, but at least there's no more secrets besides the obvious. "For the record, I'd already decided to train you before Batman said anything, but it makes it easier that he said it."

-

Her smile fades, and she nods slowly, her fade hardening. "There is nothing you can say to make me stop. You can tell him I said that. You can tell them all." The flat words are echoes of a million conversations from the past and she turns, her hand lifting to push her mask back up, a physical retreat, the hurt showing. "I need to go home, check on her."

-

"And I'm not going to try," Tim replies as he takes a step towards her and then stops. "Not anymore. I -want- to train you." His eyes narrow behind his mask and then he adds, "He's… wrong about a lot of things." There's an unusual edge to Tim's voice, the 'fight' with Bruce still having its effect. He nods when she says she should go home, letting Spoiler take the space she needs if she wants it; it's something he's all too familiar with anyways.


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