I Moderate (i_moderate) wrote in we_archive, @ 2006-07-18 21:06:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | barbara gordon, jake chambers, kyle rayner |
i_seeall Destined Meetings [Jake/Kyle/Babs]
It was when she returned home, for what was supposed to be a short break to grab some supplies, that she finally got a camera to work. One camera in the entire building, which was outfitted with over thirty, but it was still a major accomplishment and Babs wasn't going to complain. She got the thing to face away from one of the dirty toilets first off. She was tired of staring at the things, but had been for a good few hours now as she tried to fix her connections in Arkham. She wanted her video back, she wanted her camera mobility back, and she wanted sound.
She'd finally stopped trying to get sound right before lunch, but she was determined to be able to move the damned cameras. Maybe it was something about her hacking abilities from her home computer or maybe Jack was just having a little fun. Either way, Babs was glad for it
She wrote down each thing she'd done before the camera had started working, hoping to be able to repeat it when she got back to the manor. There were quite a few steps to the process, some which Babs wasn't even sure had effected it at all, but she was willing to write them down anyway. She didn't mind the wracking of her brain, it just took staying focused. A task which was harder than it seemed when she was concentrating on the view her one camera afforded her as well.
Babs was an attentive person, and her eyes kept flicking up to the screen, hoping to see something of note. Perhaps a guard left alive whose frequency she could hack into to contact. A group of the remaining prisoners so that she could get an approximate body count for Bruce. A note of some sort left lying around, and sort of clue.
Her hair fell back over her eyes for a moment as she wrote down her next few notes. It was done then, all that she could remember. Babs laid down her pen and looked back up at the screen again, using her mouse to move the camera around a bit.
One person. Just one, and it didn’t tell her anything. It was most likely one of the mental patients who didn't realize the cameras were off. She couldn't see his face, just a very pale and bare rear end pointing at her screen. Babs rolled her eyes and turned around when the man looked ready to bolt. He did.
She picked up her notes, slipped them into her folder, and was about to reach over to turn off her computer when the patient returned. Though, this time, Babs was rather sure it wasn't just any patient. Not many would have 'I love you Babs' written on their bare ass
Babs didn't hesitate in turning off her computer immediately. Sound came back just before she hit the switch, and she caught the brief fleeting sound of a very familiar laughter.
She was breathing heavily, slightly disturbed. Had she been in the Cave she might have kept up a mask of composure, but here… all cardiovascular training went out the window. Her heart was thumping like mad, and her ears were doing that familiar ringing. Jack 's laughter tended to do that to her.
It was hard. Babs moved quickly to her elevator and headed downstairs. She had to go straight back to the cave, but not like this. Bruce would know right away that something was wrong. Not that she wouldn't tell him about what had happened, but she needed to be able to do it with a straight face. It was no secret that she hated giving Bruce any reason to doubt her.
Several deep breaths helped once Babs was outside, going down her front walk towards her van. It was a nice day out, completely different from the constant overcast of Arkham. Seemed like it'd gotten darker since the news reports of that morning.
Attentive as always, she didn't miss the two figures coming up her street. It tore her eyes away from the foreboding silhouette of Arkham and left a somewhat wavering smile on her face.
She stopped right next to her van. She could wait long enough to greet Jake, let him know where she was going to be for the day. Because it was going to be all day. He'd have to fend for himself for dinner.
Current Mood: uncomfortable
From: i_throwplates Date: 07/18/2006 18:24:40
Jake had spent most of the walk fielding questions about exactly where he'd seen the tower in Kyle's picture, and trying to convince the man of just how important the field of roses was. The remainder was spent trying not to think about the green glow that inhabited the man's mind.
He saw Babs by the van as they approached, and lifted one hand in a wave. "That's Barbara," he said to Kyle. "Just... don't mention the falling down, okay?" He hoped Kyle wouldn't say anything about it.
From: i_imagine Date: 07/18/2006 18:34:30
"Our secret," Kyle said with a bit of a throwaway grin. He peered ahead, trying to see exactly who this Barbara person was. He'd gotten the fact that she wasn't exactly the kid's mother, but that was really it.
There was a vague familiarity there, but he couldn't place her. This city liked to do things like that, so Kyle didn't play it any mind. Probably just another sort of illusion, like the streets moving around all the time.
"Hey, Jake," said the brown haired woman when they'd finally gotten close enough. She looked a bit tired at closer glance, and had an air of 'always rushed' about her. "New friend?"
From: i_throwplates Date: 07/18/2006 18:45:35
"Kinda." Jake motioned to him. "This is Kyle Rayner. Kyle, Barbara Gordon. She's letting me live here. Kyle's a painter. We were talking about about the painting he's working on now."
He looked up at Kyle for confirmation.
From: i_seeall Date: 07/18/2006 19:00:49
Her brain was still a bit muddled with her business with Arkham, but not enough so that upon hearing the name Kyle Rayner she didn't do a double take.
It wasn't a very noticable one, but enough so that it left her mouthing his name and briefly thinking 'Ion'. But then she looked up at the man clearly. She recognised him alright, but he looked barely into manhood. Barely out of college, even.
She smiled. This was probably the only good news she was going to recieve all day.
"Nice to meet you Kyle." She reached out and shook his hand, reigning in her enthusiasm slightly. "And thanks for walking Jake home."
"Wasn't a problem," Kyle said with a shrug. "He's a cool kid."
"Yeah." Babs grinned slightly, eyeing the boy. "Jake, I've got to run over to the Wayne's for the afternoon. Will you be okay here, or do you want to come?"
From: i_throwplates Date: 07/18/2006 19:09:35
Jake wrinkled his nose, just a bit. It wasn't that he minded the Wayne manor. It was just that he didn't feel comfortable there. The Wayne family secret was so thick that it overwhelmed the entire home, and Jake didn't have the energy to play ignorant tonight.
"I'll be alright," he said. After all, he knew how to survive in a desert by himself for a good few weeks. A house for a few hours? Piece of cake.
From: i_seeall Date: 07/18/2006 19:25:40
"Okay. There's some food in the fridge. Real food. Don't have ice cream for dinner. And don't stay up waiting for me to get home, it'll probably be late."
Babs knew she didn't really have to say any of this. Jake had stayed home alone before during late nights and he'd been fine, but she couldn't help it. It was starting to become second nature.
She handed him a spare house key from her keychain. "Lock up. And do not leave the house. Do you understand? Don't open the doors, the windows... I have things set."
Those words, on the other hand, she had to repeat. Especially on a night like tonight. Jake knew what he was doing with weapons, there was no denying that, but she was still going to be careful.
Her eyes rested on Kyle. Once she had Jake squared away she'd deal with that development.
From: i_throwplates Date: 07/18/2006 19:36:41
Jake gave her a look that clearly showed he was well aware that ice cream was not a dinner substitute. "Real food. Alright."
Then she handed him the key, and her fingers brushed against hers as he took it. There was a bright bolt of fear that made his eyes widen for an instant, looking at her with a touch of concern and deep understanding. She was worried. Scared, for him and her friends.
"You want me to get my things from the attic?" he asked, looking into her eyes. He had his Rizas, of course. But his guns... she didn't like them, but he knew he was certainly faster with them.
From: i_seeall Date: 07/18/2006 19:50:25
The question made her hesitate a good deal before she provided an answer. Babs glanced back at the house and her attic windows, frowning slightly. "Keep the plates, have the others back before you go to bed. I don't want them left out for just anyone to pick up."
Even that took a lot for her to allow. She didn't want guns in her house, and she certainly didn't want Jake shooting to kill anyone. She could only hope he'd remember that the kneecaps were almost as vital as the heart when it came to stopping an attacker.
"And lock up the attic when you're done." It was semi-code telling him to jam up the elevator. If anyone got into the house they'd have to use the stairs, and those didn't go up to the attic. "Are we good?"
From: i_throwplates Date: 07/18/2006 20:02:41
Jake nodded, eyes on her to let her know he meant to keep that promise. "We're good."
He was surprised that she allowed even that much. Obviously there was something going on.
"Come on, Oy," he said to the billy-bimbler. He glanced back at Kyle, and held out a hand. "Nice meeting you, sai Kyle," he said. Hell with how he sounded - the formality of Roland's world still just felt right on his tongue. "Long days and pleasant nights."
From: i_imagine Date: 07/18/2006 20:16:38
Kyle would have made his excuses, and had been about to, but Jake's friend Barbara had looked at him then, and he'd stayed. She was an intense one, and the look he'd gotten nearly dared him to try and walk away.
He had no idea what he'd done to deserve such a look.
"It was good meeting you too. I think I'll take your advice on the roses." Kyle managed a girn and shook the boy's hand before he headed off.
He figured now was the time for excuses. It was just he and Barbara left now, but when he turned back to her the same look was sitting on her face. It was tinged with a smile now, but still managed to be somewhat stern and demanding. Kyle still had no clue what she wanted.
"You and I have to talk," she finally said, voice soft. She smiled a bit more now. "We've got work to do tonight."
Well, that did little to help. Kyle still didn't recognise her. "I'm sorry?"
"We need our Lantern. Two members of the JLA are better than one. Come on."
Barbara said nothing else, turning and heading towards the driver's side of the dark van. It was lucky for her that Kyle was too stunned to do anything else but follow.