Inbox

[knight_shift]

"This is Terry. I'm not available right now, so you know what to do."




"Batman here."

TEXT | EMAIL | VOICE | VIDEO

Comments

Text to Batman; un: robin

[mostdangerousbird]

I don’t know who you are, but you need to deactivate this account before it gets you in trouble.

un: batman

[knight_shift]

Thanks, but you're about two years too late to warn me about anything.

[mostdangerousbird]

Why? Who’s come through?

[knight_shift]

The first one's been here for a few months. But I've been Batman for two years back home.

What name did you think I was going by? Last I checked my suit had a big red bat on the front. Not a big red bird.

[mostdangerousbird]

How many symbol variations are you familiar with?

[knight_shift]

Apparently not as many as you.

The old man only had three partners where I'm from. Nightwing, Batgirl and Robin.

[And yet Terry hadn't acted like there was someone he didn't know wearing the Robin suit.]

[mostdangerousbird]

Singular?

[ He's not sorry about the singular word response. ]

[knight_shift]

Pretty much. Unless you count Nightwing as a Robin.

[The implication that there'd been more Robins than Dick Grayson and Tim Drake rattled something in Terry's mind.

He didn't care about Red Hood's opinion of him, but he had wondered what the guy's deal was.]

Red Hood's a former Robin, isn't he?

[mostdangerousbird]

Yes, and yes.

[ That Nightwing was Robin is a given. If you know of a Robin and Nightwing, then Nightwing also had to have been Robin. Robin isn't "Robin" without Dick having the role first: he christened it.

Red Hood being a former Robin is also hard to hide. It's in his fighting style; the guns alone don't hide it. If you know, you know.

Tim is glad that the count will stop there. No additional knowledge transferred about other Batmen, Batwomen, and Batgirls. ]

Do you know Red Hood?

[knight_shift]

We've run into each other a couple of times since I got here. Him being a Robin actually explains a lot.

[The vibe he got from him the few times he talked about the old man reminded him more than a little of the way the Commish and Drake talked about Bruce.]

[mostdangerousbird]

It explains too much. I'll have to apologize later.

[knight_shift]

I wouldn't worry about it. He basically invited me to try and find out.

I think he wants to see how I measure up to whatever image of the old man he has built up in his head.

[mostdangerousbird]

You don’t in a lot of ways. But you knew that, and you know that it’s not a bad thing.

Don’t give Red Hood too much of a hard time, okay?

[knight_shift]

And here I thought that was the entire point of being the youngest.

[It certainly felt like it was with Matt.]

[mostdangerousbird]

Younger doesn't mean anything in this family.

[ Damian is the youngest, and he'd buck kid gloves the hardest. No, Jason gets Tim playing defence on his behalf because he's already going to have one Batman after him.

I'll consider it a favor.

[knight_shift]

Relax, it was a joke. I'm not planning in giving him a hard time. Not unless he starts something.

[mostdangerousbird]

You really DON’T know him.

This is going to be a mitigated disaster at best.

[knight_shift]

So, business as usual when it comes to meeting the old guard then.

[His early relationship with the Commissioner had been extremely rocky, Superman had gotten possessed by a starfish, and Tim had gotten possessed by the Joker.

There was a pattern here, is all he was saying.]

[mostdangerousbird]

You'd have to tell me what that was like for me to agree. We can't even be sure which Robin you know, because you're short.

[knight_shift]

The mask doesn't cover up that much. It'll fool most people, but not anyone who knows who's supposed to be under it.

Batgirl kept trying to talk me out of this and eventually tried to have me arrested after she got tricked into thinking I'd murdered someone. Superman and the rest of the League got possessed by starfish and tried to kill me. This isn't the place to talk about what happened with you and believe me when I say you really don't want to know.

[mostdangerousbird]

Then Prove it, Lil B. Answers in the form of a gif. Who am I?

It’s been course-corrected in my universe. That won’t happen.

[knight_shift]

[mostdangerousbird]

Harsh. What did I ever do to deserve that?

[knight_shift]

Nothing. I'm just a smartass.

Video to Batman

[qualityfriend]

[Dana looks unhappy and deep in thought.]

Hey, Terr. Got some things I want to talk to you about. More to Batman to my boyfriend, if that makes sense.

video

[knight_shift]

I've got some time. What's up?

[qualityfriend]

Do you know Red Hood? I was talking to him about- Joker stuff, and he offered to train me to use my knife. But he also warned me that the Justice League wouldn't take him, along with serious disagreements with the other Bats.

[knight_shift]

He's one of the old man's kids. The disagreements are half because he kills crooks and half because of family drama.

There's more to it than that, but it's probably not my story to tell.

[qualityfriend]

I figured out he used to be a Robin, and he was once in the one kidnapped and tortured by the Joker. He didn't deny it when I asked.

So he's a killer, and not just of supervillains. Would you trust him to train you?

[knight_shift]

He wouldn't be the worst person I've picked up skills from.

I'd trust him. At least with that.

[qualityfriend]

Okay, then. I'd rather trust a Gotham hero than a complete stranger, even if he's not a hero anymore. If you don't have any other misgivings...

[knight_shift]

He's a mess, but he's a mess who knows what he's doing.

Just don't let him drag you into anything and you'll be fine.

[qualityfriend]

He warned me himself, so I don't think he'll try to drag me into anything.

D'you think he might go after the Joker? Alone?

[knight_shift]

He's already tried it once. I get the feeling he's not going to stop until one of them is dead.

[qualityfriend]

I'd feel a lot better if the Joker were the one to die. I didn't want to say that to him, though. In case he took it as encouragement.

[Several days later]

[qualityfriend]

He told me to find a new teacher because something came up, and all but confirmed that he's going after the Joker. He says he has allies, do you know who they could be?

Re: [Several days later]

[knight_shift]

No, but we're not exactly close.

[qualityfriend]

But you're more connected to the established heroes than I am. I suggested he get some heavy hitters; do you know who those would be, other than Superboy?

[knight_shift]

Gungnir, but she's not exactly stealthy.

Knowingmg this entire messed up family, though? He's not bringing help.

[qualityfriend]

I know her. We arrived at the same time, and she helped save me from falling. I guess she does now have Joker experience...

[Loooong sigh into the speaker]

He denied that he was going after the Joker at first. He might've been lying when he said he had a team, too.

Are y- they all like this?

[knight_shift]

Batgirl wasn't, but as far as I know the rest of us are all pretty terrible at asking for help.

Even if I'm trying to be a bit better about it now that it's not just me, Bruce and Max.

[qualityfriend]

[Giggle, then sigh]

And of course, Batgirl's the only one who isn't here.

Well, I'm glad you're being more open to reaching out. 'Specially here with so many who are willing and able to help.

[Voice to Batman]

[qualityfriend]

Remember those teens who were talking about making their own team? I think I'm gonna ask to join, or at least offer to help as a teleporter. Unless you think they're not on then up-and-up.

Re: [Voice to Batman]

[knight_shift]

Haven't heard anything that would suggest they aren't.

[qualityfriend]

Thought not, but you have more experience now telling who is shady than I do.

Do you want me to keep any connection to Batman on the DL?