InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "OMG. SHARK ATTACKZZZ."

Tony never could sit still, but, in his defense, much work went into getting a company off the ground, even in a magical city. He didn’t regret throwing the 4th of July barbecue, but he did feel like he needed to make up the hours missed at work, which was why he got up early and headed to the office long before the kids or Pepper awoke. He scribbled the family a note so they’d know where he was, stopped at a coffee shop to grab much needed caffeine, and finally settled into the office.

He signed invoices and entered payroll for a few hours before growing bored. Paper pushing was not Tony’s favorite part of running a company, but Pepper and his new hires needed time to acclimate to the business so it was a necessary evil for the moment. Still, he needed to move around so he got up and started pacing the long hall outside his office.

Barbara finished up in the bathroom and then headed back out, stopping in the hallway when she saw Tony Stark pacing outside of his office. She tipped a shoulder against the wall and grinned over at him. "I can't tell if you're trying to work through a problem, bored with paperwork, or waiting for someone," she said.

Tony’s hand automatically went to his chest where he still wore the arc reactor. Luckily, he quickly realized who spoke and chuckled. “I thought I had the place to myself,” he teased. He was, truthfully, bored with the paperwork, but he was mostly sorting out the million different thoughts rushing through his head. “What are you doing here, Babs? No big plans this weekend?”

"Might spar with Diego later," she said with a shrug. Probably would, really. She had a silly need to prove himself to her in much the same way she always felt around Bruce. Probably not the best way to look at Diego but it wasn't out of character for her. It was even pretty predictable, so predictable that she would roll her eyes at herself. "Sorry for startling you. I'm used to moving around silently. What are you working on? Need any help?"

Tony nodded at the mention of Klaus’ brother. He finally met him outside the web at the barbecue. Tony only knew bits and pieces of the Hargreeves family’s lives, but he figured sparring was likely a good way to work some things out. However, he was surprised to hear Barbara was into it and realized he didn’t know much about her outside of her living near Jersey. Near? In? “You like to spar?” He asked. “What did you do back home?” He gestured toward his office, indicating she could join him. He also avoided her question. Sure, he was getting needed things done, what, with the company being new and all, but he was also staying away from as many people as possible. So, really, he was just using work as an excuse, but she didn’t need to know that.

Babs nodded and went into his office, shooting him a smile as she did so. She dropped onto a chair and leaned back casually. Maybe it wasn't something she'd do back home, in a meeting (however informal) with her boss, but here? Sure.

"I do like to spar," she said. "And I was a reference librarian." A simple answer to both questions. She grinned at him.

Tony chuckled. He definitely didn’t consider himself a “formal” boss so, really, so long as she did her job and didn’t show up naked and drunk, they were good to go. He already knew she was smart; time would tell if she was trustworthy, but he hoped so since he really enjoyed talking to her. “I like flying,” he admitted. “Made a suit of armour and everything. It was for an escape, initially, but, you know, when I’m not saving the world or escaping terrorists, it is nice to just go fly and clear my head.” He perched on his desk in a similarly informal manner as Barbara sat in her chair. He wondered if she purposely didn’t expand on her life’s story. He wouldn’t blame her if she was guarded; in fact, he’d relate. “Give my regards to Diego?” He asked. “Are you close?”

"You built a flight suit?" she asked, impressed. The only flying she ever did was in the Batwing and that was only if she stole the starter or Bruce was feeling generous, which wasn't often. "I generally clear my head in a good book, but I haven't really taken the time to look around here and see what exists. I should pop into a bookstore or something, I guess."

She shrugged. "I just met Diego. And Klaus. Since arriving here, I mean. But Diego reminds me a little" (okay, a lot) "of my - mentor." Was that the right word? Maybe. She certainly didn't want to put Diego in the same bucket as Bruce was. "So you're a superhero? Iron Man, right?"

He nodded when she asked about the suit. Sure, it did more than fly, but it was a decent short explanation. Tony knew Klaus better than Diego so he wasn’t sure what sort of thing he might be mentoring Barbara in. The sparring? Were they preparing for something? You know...just in case? Tony found himself more intrigued as their conversation continued. “Yeah, so they tell me,” he replied, laughing. “Apparently a dime a dozen in these realities,” he added. He did not, however, mention destroying every reality he touched (or so it seemed). “Anyone tell you about any alternate versions of yourself running around yet?”

Barbara pushed her hair out of her face, where it was falling out of its tie at the nape of her neck. "Alternate versions aren't really a new thing for me," she admitted. "I mean, it's not like I've met one of myself, but we had some other dimensions shit going on so I know it's, like, a thing." She shrugged. "It's - interesting, isn't it? How many of us there are, who are here. Like, this reality is pulling in a certain type of person, for the most part."

“Fighters, so-called superheroes, and magical folk?” Tony asked. “Or, did you mean people with a shitload of issues to work out?” He grinned, but the thought that the entity was gearing up for some type of end of world bull crossed Tony’s mind more than once since arrival. Really, if he was going to fight, he’d rather be home defending his planet from aliens (although it seemed he was somehow in both places at once, which did his head in, but he was fascinated too). “You have experience in multiple universes? Just your everyday reference librarian, you said?” His eyes glinted mischievously, but he didn’t push too far. “So, what do you say, Babs? The entity - good or bad intent here?”

"All of the above?" Barbara ventured, laughing lightly. She hadn't really thought much about what any of that meant yet, but it wouldn't be long. Lots of the conversations she was having seemed to end up in the same place. What were they doing here and why.

"Reference librarian was my day job," she said dryly, but the corner of her mouth twitched up into a smile. She sat back a little, considering Tony's question. "I don't know if I have enough information yet to hazard a guess. I haven't really seen any reason to think that there's bad intent. Though at the same time, what good could be done from ripping us all away from our lives?"

“Hmmm,” Tony muttered, half-amused at their conversation. She was smart. He liked her. “Unless it is some cosmic accident, I’d say there is a plan. Call me a pessimist.” He winked. “Everyone else does.”

"I mean, I know a lot of pessimists, though I'd prefer to stay on the realist side of things." She got more comfortable, tucking a leg under herself on the chair. "I guess I would more likely think there was some cosmic plan if we weren't in some bubble reality. It just doesn't make sense to put us somewhere like this."

“Here I thought pessimism was realism,” Tony responded. He was trying to feel more optimistic for Pepper’s sake in their world, but watching an ugly purple thing turn people he loved to dust dampened the progress he made. However, Goodland could be a second chance. Maybe. He didn’t want to get too excited yet. “Entrap us here to fight something for him? Or her. Or them. Whatever the entity is.” He walked over to his mini-fridge and pulled out two bottles of water. He threw one toward Barbara. “Orrrr some eccentric billionaire who wants to give us a vacation?”

She caught the bottle of water easily, reflexes strong as ever. Gave him a nod of thanks. "This wouldn't exactly be the place I'd choose for a vacation," Barbara said. "I'd rather be on a beach somewhere, toes in the sand, sun shine, cabana boys flapping palm trees at me. You know, the usual."

He wasn’t surprised she caught the bottle given the small details she divulged that morning. “God, same,” he agreed. “Well, maybe not the cabana boys...unless they really got that breeze going with the leaves. And don’t forget the frozen margarita.” He smiled wistfully, thinking about the honeymoon he should have been planning back home. Oh, well, at least Pepper was in Goodland. He was luckier than some in that regard. “So, you didn’t say, what are you doing here today? Am I paying you overtime?”

She wasn't picky about cabana boys or girls so she just shrugged. "Oh, no you're not paying me. I just came to fiddle with some programming. Easier to do here than at home. Too many roommates, you know?"

“I’ll pay you,” he said. “You work, you get paid.” Still, he nodded his agreement about roommates. “Two teenagers and my beautiful fiancee are back at my place. Who are you with?”

"If you feel like you have to, I won't argue." It wasn't like she got paid to do this kind of stuff back home, even if being Batgirl was more of a full time job than her actual full time job. "A girl named Sierra Capper. I think she's a witch? I mean that in a factual way, not like I think she's a bitch or something."

Tony laughed. “Yeah, I’ve talked to her a little bit. She is into forensic science; filled me in on how some of that works in their world.” He shook his head, momentarily marveling in how science and magic could mix. He’d seen so much by then, nothing could really surprise him. “Hoping we don’t have much use for that sort of thing here, I confess.”

"What, magic? Or the forensic science? Because I definitely agree about the second but magic could be useful. I mean, if we have superheroes here for some reason, we can have witches and wizards too." She tapped her thumb against her chin for a moment. "Maybe you're onto something, the whole coming here to train and fight thing. I don't like the idea, but it kinda makes sense."

“The forensics, definitely the forensics,” he replied. “I am rather fond of some of the wizards flying around this place. I helped with their brooms!” Her words made him grow serious again. “Yeah,” he said, “Not really sold on the whole benevolent ostrich ruler theory floating around.” He finally took a long swig of water. “Ahhh. But that is what we are here for, right?” He lowered his voice even though he didn’t think anyone else was around; after all, he originally thought he was alone, but Barbara had been in the building. “The lab, Cisco, Sam, you...we’ll figure whatever it is out and then…” He waved a hand. “People can make their own choices.” Stay or go back. But first? They needed to know what the entity was and what its plan was.

She nodded a few times. "Yeah," Barbara said. "I think once we have more information, we'll all feel better about being here. Or about those who aren't here with us, too."

“Information is power,” Tony pointed out. “And everyone should have a choice about their own lives.” It didn’t matter if someone chose to stay or leave; the crucial thing was choice. Tony had choices ripped from him thanks to his father’s old business partner, but he vowed never to do that to anyone. Goodland, in theory, might be a great idea, but so long as the entity remained hidden, no one could be sure.