one. like the lightning strikes // video

[kingofrooks]

video;

[ Have a nice overview of your own City, network. The winds are picking up, this late in the night, and there are neon lights- and an oil-slick darkness at the edge of the screen

Comments

1/3 ; not here yet

[xuffasch]

( glancing at communicator--wait what's that? )

voice; encrypted.

[xuffasch]

There are children in that school. Innocents. And those metas could just as easily become corrupted if a cure isn't developed.

We acted as we saw fit.

voice; encrypted.

[kingofrooks]

'Acted'.

What about now?

voice; encrypted.

[xuffasch]

If you think I'm not trying to find him, then you don't know as much as I thought you did.

voice; encrypted.

[kingofrooks]

"I'm"?

voice; encrypted.

[xuffasch]

Occasionally the benefit of a team is being able to split tasks when more than one thing needs to be done.

( of course, dick wouldn't have let the joker just get away without tracking him himself, as well. but damian has something to prove. )

voice; encrypted.

[kingofrooks]

I know what a team is used for.

[ Then, he- sends Damian a coordinate.

He needs to see him.

(Timeywimey.) ]

Come.

action.

[xuffasch]

( there's only a muffled grunt of assent before damian cuts the feed. he hasn't seen his father in ages. back home, he's still dead. in the city...well, it's been six months since damian's been here, and since then this is the longest conversation they've had.

it doesn't matter. he's there precisely on time, still in robin costume. it's his--he owns it, and he needs his father to know that. )

action.

[kingofrooks]

[ He's already at the coordinates when he sends it to Damian, and watches the boy as he comes. The obedience is- surprising and yet not at the same time.

When Damian comes, he lets him wait for a few seconds, looking at the uniform he calls his own- and steps out of the shadows.

Then, very, very softly, almost reluctantly (as if it is necessity instead of sincerity that drives the word): ]

Robin.

action.

[xuffasch]

( his mouth opens automatically to respond, but the one word he wants to say can't be in a place like--not with masks and cowls. so fists clenched and tension evident, he simply says; )

Sir.

( so goddamn articulate. )

action why... did i lose this tag.

[kingofrooks]

[ The sees it, the shape of the word in Damian's mouth, and for a moment his world- shifts, jerks, the image of Talis superimposed over a child threatens to fall completely.

But not yet. ]

Follow me.

[ They're going to look for the Joker because of... Bruce's nagging instinct hi. ]

action because you have 600 of them m'dear.

[xuffasch]

( he might have considered telling his father that they don't work together, but then, isn't this what he's always wanted? so he nods an assent and follows. )

action. cry don't remind me.

[kingofrooks]

[ Is it what he wants? There's hesitation in Damian's movements- and Bruce suddenly realises that he has no idea how this boy works as part of a partnership. He just had to see him, to see what is so different that he deserves avoidance instead of confrontation.

He wants to stop seeing Talia in Damian's face. ]

Over there.

[ Leaping through the rooftops! ]

action. sobs i will not.

[xuffasch]

( dick is usually the one who provides conversation at these times, or at least provides an easy target for damian to snark at. with his father, things are entirely different. he's silent, now, and he follows his father only until he can get an inch or two ahead, eager to show of his prowess. )

action. ... sob nearly 700 wtf wtf

[kingofrooks]

[ He already feels it, prodding the edge of his consciousness. Joker. His presence, his stench- stench. ]

Re-breather.

[ He snaps his own over his mouth as he swings off the rooftop, slamming his feet down on the concrete, rolls forward, and grabs onto the railing. Pulls himself up, steps up, and looks over the City.

A patch of green, at the corner of his eyes, and he's already gone. He knows Damian can follow. ]

action

[he_is_wild]

[Joker is in the Bronx, in a dilapidated and abandoned old building. He's urinated on each building on the block to mark his territory...In retrospect he's not too sure why. Maybe using this shard so much isn't too good for him. Oh, well.

He just shrugs it off.]