038 [audio]

[batmanschmatman]

I know it's kind of ridiculous to try to look for a point to any of this? But I still think it if we were going to be able to be contacted by people not on the Barge, it would have been more handy to let us pick who we could contact. And when to contact them in the timeline.

I hate time travel.

[Private to Costigan]

I saw you talking with Sullivan. How are you doing?

[Private to Hayley]

So, I met your Harvey.

[Private to Bruce; added a little later]

You told Crane?

Comments

[Private]

[championoftime]

[Kind tone.] I can come by the infirmary and have a look at it if you've not already had it tended to. There are bone healers there.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

... If you don't mind?

[Private] Spam or assume?

[championoftime]

Not at all. I'll be there in a mo'.

[Private] Up to you!

[batmanschmatman]

Thanks, Doc.

[Spam]

[championoftime]

[And the Doctor heads for the infirmary. He's a bit worn with all the violence, and all the loss, and his own failures. But it helps to help other people. And he likes Tim and Dick, quite a bit, actually.

At least all the equipment is easy to prep.]

[Spam]

[batmanschmatman]

[And Dick ambles up not long after, looking a little shaken, but clearly trying to keep it together and more or less succeeding. His right arm is cradled a little against his chest, and the knuckles have already swollen a fair bit. They're going to be pretty impressive bruises.]

Hey. I'm not sure anything's actually broken.

[Spam]

[championoftime]

[He gives Dick a kind smile and motions him over to one of the tables.] Let's at least take a look to see if the bone is bruised. What wall was the unfortunate perpetrator in this case?

[Spam]

[batmanschmatman]

[He nods and walks over to the table, leaning against it but not actually sitting down for a moment. He was still looking a little out of it, but managed a small smile at the question.] One of the ones in my room.

[Spam]

[championoftime]

Those walls are never up to any good. [He takes his hand to have a look at it.] Can you move your fingers?

[Spam]

[batmanschmatman]

[The knuckles are pretty swollen, but he's able to curl his fingers towards his palm a little, gritting his teeth in pain as he does so. His voice is very slightly strained as he speaks, because while yeah, this hurts, he's been hurt a lot worse more often then he'd care to remember.] Yeah, sort of.

[Spam]

[championoftime]

[He winces sympathetically, but then brightens.] If they put up that much of a fight, next time you should talk it out. [Another look.] I'll use the bone healer, it should take care of any bruising or cracks you made. [He grabs that to strap it over his hand.] Sit, sit, this'll take a few.

[Spam]

[batmanschmatman]

Okay. [He does, patiently holding out his hand for the Doctor to do whatever he had to do with it.] How does it work, exactly? I've never gotten to try one out before.

[Spam]

[championoftime]

It accelerates the natural healing process. It should be very warm, but don't worry. That's quite normal. [He hops up to sit as well, kicking his feet lightly because he's just short enough that he can't comfortably reach the floor with them.]

So, what is it that happened before the wall got to you? Something to do with Dr. Crane I presume?

[Spam]

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick nods in understanding and sits quietly for a moment, looking at his hand and ignoring the heat before answering.]

Bruce and I had a fight. I got upset and punched the wall.

[Spam] ARGH I REPLIED TO THIS *spats like an angry cat*

[championoftime]

What was it that he said? [Genuinely concerned as he goes to get Dick some mild painkillers and water in case his hand still throbs once the healer is done.]

[Spam] Would you like me to hit Livejournal for you? :C

[batmanschmatman]

[He fidgeted a little before answering.]

He got... How much has Tim told you about what things are like back home? [Because it would sound less crazy if he knew some of the details.]

[Spam] Yes in the face plz.

[championoftime]

Enough that I can cobble and ask my way through it if I hit a roadblock. [And given his own history crazy shouldn't be a problem.]

[Spam] /punches

[batmanschmatman]

[He nodded and paused again before answering, looking back at his injured hand.]

He's apparently angry with me for taking over for him after he died. Which hasn't even happened for me yet. And he tried telling me Bruce Wayne wasn't important, just, you know, the job, which is a conversation we seem to have every couple years, and I just... I'm just tired. [And he sounded like it.]

[Spam] /punches

[championoftime]

...But he was dead... [He has to think about it, staring at Dick for a bit. It's tough to consider. He'd be disappointed if, after his final death, someone came along calling themselves "The Doctor", but if it was Susan? He-

Well, he'd be sad that she was roped into his life, but not that he was replaced.] It's a difficult life. But in the end it will always be your choice to do as you wish. That's part of what being here can make you decide- however, choosing not to might rob you of knowing, and contributing to the Tim you've met here.

[Spam]

[batmanschmatman]

[That was something he hadn't actually really considered, as weird as it sounded. While he definitely really didn't want to make those choices or be that person, he was right about Tim. And while on the one hand, he wasn't sure Tim was happy with how things turned out, on the other, he still loved him, and so maybe if Tim was okay with how things had happened, he could get over it.] Yeah. He's a good kid.

[Spam]

[championoftime]

I think you and Bruce both have done well by him. I know he's a troubled young man, but he needs to see the consequences of violence. I think you do an excellent job of demonstrating that, no matter the mask you wear.

I think Bruce doesn't understand his importance. Maybe he's saying that because the mask is sometimes easier to hide behind than acknowledging how lost his family is without him, and that would be the case even if there wasn't a Batman. [He taps the device and removes it.] Better?

[Spam]

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick actually perks up at that. Although generally he was a pretty self confident person - in certain circumstances, anyway - right now that was shaky at best, and the praise is unexpected and appreciated. He nods at the second point, not even really surprised that the Doctor gets it without him having to explain, not to mention providing some insight that made it seem almost like he hung out around the Batcave every night.] Yeah, it would be. I just wish he would, you know? Understand, I mean.

[He flexes his fingers slowly, testing the injuries, and smiles again, still smaller than maybe it usually would be, but honest and appreciative.] Yeah. Thanks, Doc.

[Be careful, Doctor, you might be setting yourself up for a Grayson Hug (TM)]

[Spam]

[championoftime]

[He likes his temporary fake family. And hugs. So neither he's opposed to.] He probably does understand, and is a little afraid of it. [He gives him a gentle smile and pats his shoulder.] Next time, try to talk it out with the wall. I know they're notorious for their lack of ears but it's always worth a try.

[Spam]

[batmanschmatman]

[He laughs quietly.] I'll see what I can do.

[He flexes his fingers again before standing up, and after hesitating a beat, he pulls him into a hug.] Thanks for listening.

[Spam]

[championoftime]

[He oofs, but then hugs back tightly and thumps him on the back.] You're more than welcome.