[ nineteen; ]

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

[ Bruce has, somewhat predictably, been hiding out in his room all day today. Towards the evening, though, he ventures into town. He doesn't do any window shopping and in fact he looks a little peeved as he makes a bee-line for a flower shop, purchases something and then heads back to the castle.

From there he goes right up to the roof to sit on the ledge and watch the sun setting over the horizon. He doesn't move for a very long time, instead just sitting there and thinking, gently cradling two white roses in his hands.

Bother him if you like, but saying he's not one for conversation at the moment would be an understatement. ]

Comments

[heirdom]

[Damian cannot remember the last time he got some sort of affectionate touch -- or any touch -- from his father. It makes him a little anxious, but a little excited, too. He gets up to follow him.]

Okay.

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

[ It's a rare thing, but it seemed like the right thing to do, considering he's spent most of the day thinking of his parents and wondering how badly he's screwed up as a parent to his own kids. ]

How good are you with untangling wires?

[heirdom]

It's easy. Why?

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

Because I need someone to untangle wires for me while I work on the computer in what's soon going to be HQ.

[heirdom]

[Sounds boring as hell, but.]

I can do that.

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

[ It is boring as hell. Why do you think he's getting someone else to do it? ]

Good.

[heirdom]

Are you going to start another casebook, on it?

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

That's part of the reason for having the computer.

[heirdom]

I saw Two-Face the other night, after the bodies showed up.

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

[ He pauses briefly and then keeps walking, though he's frowning now. ]

What happened?

[heirdom]

Nothing. He got away from me, so I just went to find Dick.

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

[ You see this look, Damian? This is the 'Daddybat does not believe you,' look. ]

He ran off... you just went to find Dick... and this is the first I'm hearing about any of this?

[heirdom]

[Aaaand then he feels like he shouldn't have brought it up.]

Yes.

[Damian didn't exactly tell Dick about it, either.]

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

Try again.

[ This time with more detail and facts. Since he's about 99.999999999% sure Dick wouldn't have left him out of the loop with that. ]

[heirdom]

[Really regretting that now.]

... I haven't told Dick yet, either.

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

Why.

[heirdom]

I thought I could handle it myself.

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

Tell me everything that happened.

[heirdom]

Two-Face... [He does not want to admit this. At all.] Two-Face got the upper hand.

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

[ He pauses and looks Damian over. He's still frowning, but the anger isn't directed at Damian. ]

... How bad was it?

[heirdom]

I had Ino heal me. She has magic.

[He hesitates, and he definitely doesn't want to say it.]

But I only lived because I made him flip the coin, and he got a good head.

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

[ He turns away and sighs quietly. That's... not what he wanted to hear. At all. Especially not on today of all days. ]

If you come across him again before we catch him and you're by yourself, do not engage him. Understood?

[heirdom]

[He's not sure whether to interpret that at disappointment that it almost happened, or disappointment that Damian isn't a better Robin.]

Understood.

[Pause.]

Are you going to tell Dick?

[isthenight.livejournal.com]

Not until this is over and he's back in jail. I'm not sure I'd be able to stop him from walking out the door to hunt him down.

[ He looks slightly uncomfortable, because that's the exact same urge he's shoving down right now. He needs to plan, and find a way to get Damian to go away stick by someone else before he can. ]

[heirdom]

I don't think Dick would be irrational about it. [Yet he's hesitated anyway.] Batman isn't supposed to be.