134 [video]

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick turns on the camera feed and smiles sort of sheepishly,]

So, I'm back. Checked on a few things at home, dropped in to say hi to some friends, Kirk says hi back. Doesn't sound like I missed anything too awful on this end.

[He hesitates, like he's considering just leaving it at that, because he's got a pretty good idea by now how some people take this sort of thing, but. Hey. Sometimes it's good, to remember it's actually worth it sometimes.]

I came here two years ago to save the lives of one hundred thousand and sixty eight people who were killed when a living chemical bomb was dropped on the city I'd spent years trying to protect. Part of the reason I went home was to make sure the Admiral followed through on our deal, because that's a pretty big thing to ask for, even for this place.

The city's still a radioactive wasteland, but everyone got out okay.

[One corner of his mouth ticks up in a small smile, almost embarrassed, or maybe just disbelieving, because he can still remember what it had been like, to watch it happen and run back to try and help, passing out in the wreckage of the city from the radiation, honestly not expecting anyone to get him out and maybe not even wanting them to.] You can tell me this place is awful and I'm crazy for being here all you want, but I don't care what crap the Admiral puts us through on a day to day basis. If this place helps one person - and it's done way more than that over the years - then it's worth it, and I'm not sorry I agreed to work here.

[Private to Tim]

Thanks for looking after Jinks for me.

[Private to Sara]

Hey.

Comments

[batmanschmatman]

You're welcome. I love you, too.

[hellofist]

Did you... see anyone? Or just city?

[batmanschmatman]

I dropped in to say hi to Bruce and Alfred, but I spent most of my time catching up with Kirk and Shego.

[hellofist]

Meant, um... Bludhavians?

[Is that a word? It doesn't really matter though because the mention of Alfred has her smiling.]

He's okay? Heard about Kirk, from Merlin. What's he like?

[batmanschmatman]

Yeah, they're both fine. I checked in with my old police captain and a few friends, but they all got out okay in the first place.

He's a good guy. He's one of the best friends I've ever had.

[hellofist]

[She's kind of beaming at him now. Best brother ever.]

Good. And, sorry I missed him. [Because if Dick thought of him so highly, he must be a pretty upstanding citizen, right?

Right?]

[batmanschmatman]

[Something like that. B(]

I think he's pretty happy to be out of here.

[hellofist]

Guess not everyone... can be smart, like us. Appreciate good things... this place does.

[batmanschmatman]

He could. But he also was smart enough to realize when it was time to go home. This place shouldn't be somewhere you want to stay permanently.

[hellofist]

[Which is... pretty much exactly what Cass wants to do. And something she's had a few fights with Steph over. She doesn't want to fight with Dick, but he's smart. He's been here a long time and just ignoring his opinions would be stupid.]

How come? It's... not so bad, here.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick hesitates before flipping on a private filter, because this is stuff he doesn't necessarily want just anyone knowing about.]

Sometimes, it's not. But I've died here, Cass. I've watched it destroy people I love, and while I've met some really good people here and do think we're doing the right thing by helping, Gotham needs us. I miss Bruce, [Our Bruce, obviously, because Dick still thinks the one here is a poor substitute.] and even though I've been really scared of what's going to happen when I do go home, I know everything's going to work out okay in the end, and I'd rather go home before this place crushes anything good left in me.

[Private]

[hellofist]

Oh.

[What can she say to all that? All of his reasons are good for him, there's no point, she has no right to argue against any of it.]

Well... will miss you, when you... do go.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

You'll see when you get home.