I Moderate (i_moderate) wrote in we_archive, @ 2006-01-15 18:55:00 |
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Entry tags: | alfred pennyworth, barbara gordon, bruce wayne, dick grayson, maxine gibbons, tim drake |
i_walktheline Homecoming [ Open / Batfam ]
Bruce Wayne wriggled and shimmied his way out of the arms of the woman who was practically humping him in the Wayne Manor driveway. She was not Pepper Saint James. Bruce wasn't quite sure who she was, only that he'd done a good job of appearing mildly drunk all day long and she had managed to be the only one among the group he was with who was sober enough to drive him home.
Somewhere in a very upscale restaurant he would be hard pressed to name; Pepper Saint James was plotting this woman's downfall. And right now Bruce couldn't blame her. He'd even applaud. The woman was a dragon, with the long red nails to match. And her perfume was killing his nose.
He shifted, politely moving her hands away from vulnerable areas of his body, and continued moving away from her. If he hadn't realized how shrewd she was on the drive over, he would have been more forceful. As it was, he was somewhat mildly trapped.
"Ahem. Master Bruce."
"Alfred, my good man." Bruce let the relief he felt show in his tone. " I was just saying goodbye to... Jesse ? Jessica ?" He paused, making himself look as puzzled as possible. "Jennifer ?"
"Jenna!" Jenna half shrieked, while trying to look pouty and upset.
"Jenna." Bruce said nodding and backing his way up the stairs.
"I have your bath drawn, sir. And I've told the office to hold all your calls for at least an hour." Alfred slipped between them like a bastion of hope, de-tangling the dragon claws with one deft maneuver and turning the woman back to her car.
"Thank you, Alfred. I think I've had a little too much fun lately."
"Indeed, Master Bruce."
Bruce hurried inside, not looking back to see Alfred genteelly manhandle the man-eater back into her own car. He touched his neck, where one of her nails had scratched his skin. Yes, he definitely felt no pity for her. Pepper would have her crushed and frozen out of society in a matter of hours. She'd taken advantage once, but never would again. That was the upside of making his first relationship in this city be with someone of such high stature; the buffer zone.
Slipping through the door, Bruce paused, feeling safe behind half a foot of solid oak. But the quiet didn't last for long. He could feel a pair of eyes watching him.
"Tim."
"You've been gone for days."
Bruce opened his eyes. "I have."
"Only Alfred knew where you were."
"It would have been easy to guess."
He could feel Tim watching him, assessing and strangely enough, disproving. It was a touch unnerving. He wanted to say he didn't need a nursemaid, but bit his tongue instead. He remembered how volatile Dick could be when he was that age. And Dick hadn't come across even half as protective.
"I don't usually have to account for my whereabouts."
"In this City, your partner should have some idea where you are and why."
"Excuse me, sirs." Alfred interrupted, and there was the soft click of the front door closing.
"Yes ?"
"I called you home, Master Bruce, because there is an email from the Oracle. She's found Master Richard."
Bruce felt something inside him both freeze and relax. "Dick ? Where is he ?" He was moving towards his office as he spoke and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tim walk back up the mahogany staircase.
"I left the message for you to read, sir. And your bath down there is prepared. I shall bring the medical kit to you."
"Medical ..?" Bruce put a hand up to the scratch and flashed a wry grin. "Your sense of humor is astounding, Alfred."
"It is the little things in life that keep us smiling, Master Bruce."
From: [info]i_seeall Date: 01/17/2006 18:40:57
The drive over had been short. Short and quiet, and Babs knew it was partially her fault. Talking to Dick alone was going to be awkward for her until she figured things out in her own mind, and until it wasn't awkward she didn't want to be alone with him for too long, hence her driving over the speed limit most of their trip. If asked, it would be passed off as the nerves coming from having to participate in this meeting.
She was out of the van as quickly as she could when the reached the manor. It was just hitting dusk and sort of loomed above them, which was just not what she needed to be looking at or thinking. It was a grim smile that sat on her lips when she manuevered to the passenger's side of the van where Dick had gotten out.
"Dusk, dreary, and slightly depressing," Babs said, summing it up neatly. She looked up at Dick. "Remember. Play nice. It doesn't need to become anymore depressing."
From: [info]i_flybynight Date: 01/17/2006 22:10:12
He probably would've pushed her if this hadn't been a completely new world, and a slightly-almost different Babs. An unfamiliar one, at least. It had led to an unusually quiet car ride, but at least Dick had kept from fidgeting too much. It helped that he kept reminding him that this was Bruce he was going to see.
He didn't fidget around Bruce, really. It wasn't the way to act, not if you were trying to argue with the man, which sometimes, was akin to arguing with a wall.
"Yeah, yeah," he nodded, and wished he had pockets he could stick his hands in as they started towards the door. "I will."
From: [info]i_seeall Date: 01/18/2006 12:37:00
"Good." Babs reached up and pushed the doorbell. Alfred was probably waiting for them. "Just remember that he's younger, hasn't made the mistakes yet. You two have a chance to fix this. If you wanted."
From: [info]i_flybynight Date: 01/18/2006 12:50:32
"I'm sure we can manage to be civil long enough to get out of here."
In the absence of pockets, Dick settled for folding his arms over his chest. And frowning. It didn't take much for a man in a mask to look less than pleased, and even if this Bruce found it odd that he wouldn't be greeted with a grin and general sounds of happiness, he had the excuse of being snatched away from his own timeline and dropped here.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/19/2006 12:43:30
Alfred opened the door, so it took a moment for him to leave Master in his office and make his way across the Great Hall and up the three steps to the mahogany and glass doors.
The figures through the glass looked male and female. Looked male and Ms. Gordon to be more precise. And he knew who was supposed to be arriving. Still, opening the door and seeing familiar features, even if somewhat disguised by the mask; was a delightful surprise.
"Master Ri.." Alfred paused. Even in his enthusiasm, he had to respect the mask. "Nightwing." And then nodded with an easy smile at Barbara. "Ms. Barabara."
From: [info]i_seeall Date: 01/19/2006 14:31:45
"Hello, Alfred." While normally she might have taken the time to tease and call him Mr. Pennyworth, she didn't tonight. Her mood wasn't quite there; she was pleasent and smiling, yes, but not in her best mood ever.
"I'm guessing Bruce is in?" She asked, peering around the main foyer. Of course, he was probably in one of his offices or the sitting room. "He did recieve my email right? It said someone had read it."
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/19/2006 14:39:51
"Master Bruce should be in his office by now. But I am to escort you to the dining room. The moment I read the email I knew I should begin to make a few of Master Dick's favourites."
He stepped back, opening the door further so they could walk in. " He should enjoy them when he comes down from his room, second floor, east wing."
Alfred glanced at Dick as he spoke. There were clothes there for Dick to change into, if he wanted.
From: [info]i_flybynight Date: 01/19/2006 15:15:05
Alfreds appeared to be universal. At least, this looked like the Alfred that Dick remembered, though perhaps a little younger. The man seemed to have started out at a certain age and just stayed there.
And despite all of his misgivings about talking to Bruce-from-the-past, Dick couldn't help but smile at him, ducking his head as he stepped in. "Alfred."
He hesitated at the idea of regular clothes - he really wasn't that much older than the Dick that Bruce would know, and the costume seemed... necessary, somehow. Well, at least he could go up and take the mask and the gloves off.
Which he did. He eyed the clothes that had been laid out, had no doubt that they'd fit, but just left them there. Washed his face, and his hands, and left the gloves and the mask on the bed before going back downstairs and finding his way to the dining room.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/19/2006 15:37:56
Downstairs Alfred had walked Ms. Barbara to the dining table, and paused by a corner to lift up the house phone and dial the office.
On the table were dishes covered with lids, and the smell of various quick and easy finger foods mingled and hovered. There hadn't been time for more. But a true reunion dinner could be had later. Right now, it was more impromptu.
From: [info]i_seeall Date: 01/19/2006 15:43:44
Babs moved in towards the table, waiting before Alfred got off the phone to speak.
"I hope this goes well," she said, wringing her hands slightly in her lap. She sighed and looked across the table, staring into the wall. Bruce and Dick's relationship in her own time had mellowed from volitile at least, but she remembered, very clearly, when the two had first spilt and the ugliness that their fights could reach.
At least Dick had looked happy to see Alfred. That was something. Of course, no one could ever be not happy to see Alfred. It wasn't as if he was often one to bring news of doom and gloom.
From: [info]i_flybynight Date: 01/19/2006 16:01:24
Well, Dick would try to stick to his end of things, and at least not start a foodfight. That would definitely not help Bruce see the part about Dick being an adult and capable of doing his own thing. Taking care of his own city, even.
He went in and took a seat across from Babs, his expression something between worry and a resigned sort of a hope. Or perhaps, bemused confusion. "I apologize in advance for if this goes bad," he said, dropping his voice to a stage whisper.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/19/2006 16:06:07
"Dick!" Bruce Wayne walked into the room, a smile curving his lips and enthusiasm in his eyes. He paused just in front of Dick. "Sorry, 'Richard.'"
He grinned and reached out to pull the young man in front of him into a bear hug. The difference in size from memory made him step back before the hug had even started.
"Only you would go to college and hit a growth spurt."
From: [info]i_flybynight Date: 01/19/2006 16:17:31
He stood up obediently, and managed to make his smile not like that of a cornered animal, because, well, it was good to see the man again - any familiar face (almost any; there were a few he could do without) was a welcome sight.
"Bruce," Dick replied, the smile flashing across his face and half-fading again. "You're the only person who'd pull off getting younger in the future."
Look, civility!
From: [info]i_seeall Date: 01/19/2006 16:22:29
Thank God for the civility. Babs actually grinned as the two embraced. Perhaps this wouldn't go half as bad as she'd expected.
"'Evening, Bruce. I'm glad we caught you while you were home." She said, still beaming at the two of them. "I told you I'd find him."
From: [info]i_outwit Date: 01/19/2006 16:26:57
Tim was lagging behind on his way up the steps, and he burst in with his breath caught in his chest. Please, oh, please, let Dick know him. And not hate him. Let this be the Dick that he ate cheesesteak fajitas with in Bludhaven. Please, oh please. Oh please.
Please.
Tim ran his fingers through his hair, a little nervously, and asked, "'Wing?"
Hoping. Hoping, hoping.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/19/2006 16:30:20
He looked over at Barbara. "I wish he wasn't here. But at least you found him quickly." He turned to look at Dick again. Really look at him.
Bruce knocked a finger against the blue on Dick's chest. "I've been told you changed colors."
And behind him came Tim's soft hesitant voice. He jerked his finger behind him. "By that fellow."
From: [info]i_flybynight Date: 01/19/2006 16:50:45
Dick liked the blue. The black was practically requisite, but the blue might as well have been red. But then, red wouldn't have made it as great a step away from Robin as he'd have liked. Robin was a Spring creature, and blue was an entirely different season.
"I've been told you changed colors."
Something in his face twitched at that. It wasn't as though he'd changed sides, or anything, and there was something about the phrase - as literally meant as it was - that could be taken as such.
He looked up, past Bruce, and saw his second replacement. His relief at seeing the boy was immediately met by a bit of guilt that he was happy to see him tossed into this mini-chaos, too. "Tim. Should've figured you'd turn up."
From: [info]i_outwit Date: 01/19/2006 16:59:20
"A little while ago," he said softly, but pushed past Bruce to offer his hand to Dick. The hand that would pull him into a hug, if Tim had anything to say about it.
"I'm really, really glad you recognize me," Tim said, not disguising the relief in his voice at all. Dick knew him!
"But, this place doesn't have Cheesesteak Fajitas."
From: [info]i_flybynight Date: 01/19/2006 17:23:26
Well, half a hug. Bruce was still a bit in the way, and Dick wasn't about to push him out of the way. Yet. That could wait for when civility stopped working.
He grinned. "Of course I do." Jeez, Tim, have a little faith in Dick's optical abilities. One eyebrow lifted, amused. "Well, you're definitely still a teenaged boy. Alfred hasn't managed to make up for that yet?"
From: [info]i_assist Date: 01/19/2006 17:32:33
Ace ran into the dining room, nails clicking on the wood floor as he nearly skidded to a stop at Bruce's side and then collapsed happily. There hadn’t been any more need to contain him now that they were inside, and really, Max wasn't thinking quite straight anyway. If Ace hadn't led her to the dining room there was a good chance that she wouldn't have found Bruce, and the entire family apparently plus a new addition, before going down into the cave.
She was clutching her miniature computer in her hand when she entered, still slightly in a fog. People were talking, but she wasn't paying much attention to the subject of the conversation.
"Um." Max stopped in the doorway, dropping Ace's leash to the side behind her. She looked a little shaken maybe, from thinking about the Saint, and…well. Other things.
"I… really don't want to kill the mood. So, I'm just not gonna. Just… Bruce. I have to talk to you later. There's someone coming into town. Someone bad. I'm gonna go watch for him now, 'cause we don't know when he's coming. Just that he is, and that that could be a really, really bad thing. And… ugh, that totally was not all supposed to come out like that. It was just supposed to be, Bruce, I have to talk to you later… which I do. When ever you're, uh, done. I'll be downstairs. No rush." A pause, and Max did a quick double take. "Wow. Dick Grayson? Hi. Running now, but hi."
She looked at the faces around the table, gave a small wave and then turned around and skedaddled, not waiting to see any reactions.
In the dining room, Babs turned and stared at Bruce, eyebrows hiked. "She? Is going to school."
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/19/2006 18:38:14
Bruce shifted out from between the boys and nodded. "Definitely. Maybe college advanced courses."
He glanced back at Dick and Tim. "That was Maxine. She's supposed to be akin to Oracle from the future. 2038. Though as I seriously doubt I'd let anyone in the field be reliant on someone still lacking Barbara's discipline, she may just be Oracle-in-training."
His eyes rested on Dick again and he smiled. "It's really good to see you."
From: [info]i_flybynight Date: 01/19/2006 19:17:50
Well, that had been a regular whirlwind of a girl. He hadn't even had time to respond to the - had that counted as a greeting? Dick wasn't surprised she was from the future, though; he had a feeling anyone that exuberent wouldn't have stuck around long with the Bruce he knew.
"So the Bat lasts that long," Dick said, neutrally, not terribly surprised. After all, when Bruce put his mind to getting something done, it tended to get done. Even if it took thirty years.
He returned the smile, perhaps a bit more reservedly than Bruce's own. "Yeah. Interesting to see how people turn out, huh."
Which may not have been the smartest thing to say, if they were going to try and traverse this with as little confusion as possible. But maybe it was better to just jump in and try and get that out of the way.
From: [info]i_seeall Date: 01/19/2006 19:59:30
"Well, Bruce isn't exactly cavorting across rooftops anymore in her time," Babs said, giving Bruce a teasing look before continuing. "Apparently her best friend is the new Batman. Bruce does my job."
She had to wonder, sometimes, how long it had taken Bruce to resort to that. How stubborn he'd been before he realised that it was time to let the younger generation take over. The thought amused her greatly.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/19/2006 20:16:05
"I'm still Batman's brain." He said calmly, taking the teasing as it came. He moved over to uncover a dish and pick up something that looked like pigs-in-a-blanket, to nibble on idly.
"Ahem." Alfred said behind him, and Bruce shot him a gleeful wicked look and continued eating with his fingers like a little boy.
"It's always interesting to see how people turn out." He said, replying this time to Dick. "It's usually a surprise in one way or another." His eyes focused in, looking serious a moment.
"Dick ?" There was a lot wrapped up in the single word; cautious questioning, concern, worry, offer of support. Bruce let his once over of Dick be noticable, a quiet way of asking if something was wrong. Dick was tense, his rhythmn was strained and while it's possible that simply may have changed in the years Bruce had missed. It might be something else.
From: [info]i_flybynight Date: 01/19/2006 21:05:04
This was a Bruce that Dick had not seen in years, and one that he barely remembered. Time passed in odd intervals when you lived at night. Everything seemed to stretch over more time. It was a long sort of lifestyle, even when it was short.
"Yes, Bruce?" he asked in return, not trusting himself to be as bare. There was, apparently, such thing as knowing too much, and he couldn't help but wonder if Babs had hit that point yet. He could've made a greater effort, but he couldn't be the chirpy sidekick he used to be. Especially with Babs and Tim around. They'd know how fake it would be.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/19/2006 21:13:04
He looked briefly at Barbara and then Tim and wondered if it was another one of those things that was a part of his future that should be discussed in private.
"Will you be staying here or with Barbara ?" It was asked lightly. Mostly because he was still curious. And in a room filled with people he'd trained to be detectives, subterfuge would not go over well.
Of course, he couldn't hide that he was analyzing things; trying to put pieces in their right place. The people in the room also knew him too well for that, even if they weren't all as familiar to him as they should have been.
"At least stay the night, we can talk later. Catch up."
Behind Bruce, Alfred interrupted with the quiet cunning of a snake. "Pancake breakfast, Master Dick. My specialty." Then with more tempting tone. "Perhaps, Belgian Waffles."
From: [info]i_flybynight Date: 01/19/2006 21:53:41
Dick couldn't help the little smirk that he had to shoot in Babs - sorry, Barbara's direction. Richard, indeed.
"I was going to stay here. Babs offered, but..." he trailed off. Too much estrogen, or maybe he did want to subject himself to trying to live under the same roof as the man who would become his father. "Besides, even with the sudden influx of sidekicks," and former sidekicks, "my guess is that you'd probably have more space to spare than she does."
He shifted to focus on Alfred. "Come on, that sort of bribery is unfair, Alfred."
From: [info]i_outwit Date: 01/19/2006 23:57:25
"Belgian Waffles? How 'bout French Toast!" Tim liked toast better than waffles. He leaned, very slighlty, against Dick for a moment, his shoulder touching the former Boy Wonder's arm, before he pulled away again.
In Tim-speak, that meant 'we gotta talk.' Or maybe it was special Robin-code.
"Between the bunch of us, I think we've got plenty of room. I seem to have my own apartment closer to City Center, 'Wing. I'll bet you've got yours hiding around here someplace, too."
It was just a matter of finding it. Tim was watching the two of them, a little confused. He'd seen Dick and Bruce fight, yes. But something about this seemed different. He wasn't sure if maybe he had forgotten something, or just not seen it happen yet.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/20/2006 00:23:40
Three weeks ago ? Less ? Dick had gone back to college after Thanksgiving break. Now, now he was staring at a grown man. There was a hardness to Dick's body language and Bruce knew what it was. It was responsibility, the weight of having your own city.
He had it. Kal-el had it, hidden under his cloak. The Flash had it, when he stood still long enough to be seen. And now Dick had it. Dick had felt the losses that formed the yoke for those burdens.
He'd hoped Dick might grow out of wanting this other life after experiencing college; find another way to save and protect. It seemed he hadn't. Bruce hoped the choice had truly been his own.
"Of course." Bruce said, hiding a touch of disappointment but not allowing himself to be anything be realistic. "You're a grown man now. Your home may have followed you here."
He joked to hide it. "Hopefully, you can't cook and we'll get to see you quite often around dinner time." And perhaps after, he and Dick could catch up on those missing years. And he could see for himself how Dick was handling the responsibility.
From: [info]i_flybynight Date: 01/20/2006 00:42:27
Dick nudged Tim back, maybe jabbing him with his elbow just a little harder than necessary. Yeah. Finding out where Tim was from would be good. Oddly, the fajita remark had provided a little bit of a timeline. Sort of.
"I haven't found it yet, then. This is a confusing place to navigate, even with the landmarks. Parts of Bludhaven keep popping up, but nothing too solid." Bruce with a sense of humor. Well, the man had some sort of sense of humor, but he remembered it being significantly less... light-hearted. "Actually, I can cook, but I bet Alfred's still far better at it."
The odds of Dick being a better cook than Alfred were somewhere around infinity to zero.
From: [info]i_seeall Date: 01/20/2006 16:35:14
Babs was smiling, and thanking whatever deity lived above them that things were going well. Tim's entrance had helped, she thought. He provided a buffer between Dick and Bruce, even if he didn't know it. Babs suspected that the two older men would be loathe to fight in front of him.
Of course, Dick's maturity about the whole thing helped as well. She really had been afraid that the whole thing would go sour about ten minutes into talking. "I'll start looking for your apartment, Dick. It may take awhile, but I'll see what I can do." She looked at Bruce with a grin. "I doubt we'll have to worry about not seeing him for dinner, you know how he eats."