batmanschmatman | 018 [audio]

[He handed it over, watching patiently, still not really noticing or picking up on the closeness potentially being an issue or something to pay much attention to. He didn't elaborate or ask anything, still a little worried about the word vomit, and honestly he was okay with sitting quietly listening from time to time, even if he was generally pretty talkative.]

[Ariadne accepted the design and quickly began her work. She drew an arrow between the living room and the bedroom before explaining:] You can move these two if you want a larger space devoted to a strong room.

[She was completely in her element, feeling quite comfortable with explaining all of this too him. Carefully, she turned her face to him to better explain it.]

And a kitchen should help in case the dining hall is compromised. Are you okay with being a go-to spot if things get rough?

[She was pretty sure the answer was yes, but it still didn't hurt to ask.]

[He nodded, thinking that over. As someone who didn't spent a ton of time in his own place back home, a larger portion devoted to a safehouse or command center was perfectly okay with him, especially in a crisis situation. And a kitchen would definitely be helpful, considering he'd already learned microwavable soup got really tiresome after a week of eating nothing but.

He looked at her when she turned to him and smirked playfully as he elaborated on the answer.]

Yeah, definitely. So long as you don't mind sharing with Tim and Costigan, if they want in. Maybe Steph too.

[Ariadne watched him as he thought and smiled again at his smirk.]

I meant a general place for people to hole up in a time of crisis. If anyone asked.

[She leaned back a little against the couch, keeping her gaze on him.]

I wouldn't mind sharing with Tim, Costigan, and Steph.

[The cheeky smirk widened as he shrugged, leaning back against the couch too as he continued to sort of tease her.]

It'd have to be pretty big to fit everyone. Probably gonna have to prioritize.

[Ariadne shook her head, grinning ever the wider.]

That's what a room shift would be for. You could make more space if needed.

[Still, it felt good to (seemingly) be higher on the list of priorities; she liked to belong just as much as everyone else.]

[This more complicated thought clearly required the notebook, and he quickly scribbled down a question, treating her to another "are you serious" eyebrow raise.]

Holy catastrophe, You're seriously talking a panic Batroom that could hold everyone on the BatBarge? Seems kinda excessive. How do you even build one in, anyway? Just ask the Batadmiral?

[Ariadne's smile took a more serious tone as she saw him using the notebook.]

A room that could grow if more people needed a place to stay.

[It made sense to her, considering what she'd heard about the Barge growing when more people came onboard.]

If the Barge can ---

[She paused, hearing the rattling as she stared at him. Oh great. She carefully got to her feet and glanced around, trying to finish her sentence.]

If the Barge can do it, so could your room.

[She was near a shout, trying to speak over the steady rumble of an approaching train.]

[Dick immediately got up, dropping the pen and notebook again to look around, still not hearing the train, but trying to figure out where it was coming from anyway.]

Holy smokes, Ariadne, it's happening again, isn't it?

[He was concerned enough that it hadn't even really registered that his own new "ability" had manifested itself, still trying to figure out where the train was.]

[Ariadne heard the 'holy smokes' and furrowed her eyebrows but didn't have long to really consider it. She reached for Dick's hand as the train pounded through the kitchen, pulling him toward the door. She really, really didn't like feeling this crazy, that any moment a train could come blazing through during their conversation.]

[He let himself get dragged out of the way, looking around, trying to get some idea of what she was seeing and how bad it was, holding her hand tightly to try and remind her that whatever it was, wasn't real.] Is it gone?

[Ariadne gripped his hand tightly as she stood by the door and the train plowed through her room. It was terrifying to see such a thing and once it passed, she simply nodded, not looking at him but instead staring out at where the living room had just been.]

[He followed her gaze for a moment, wondering what she was seeing exactly - what kind of train, how much damage - since the room still looked fine to him, before turning back to her, squeezing her hand reassuringly.] Hey, it's okay. We're safe.

[The squeeze to her hand alerted her to his presence and she glanced over at him briefly before staring out at the living room as the train finished and the pieces began to knit together. With her other hand, she tried to calm herself by pressing it to her temples. This was just a flood. They were okay.]

[Oh, to hell with it. The vigilante carefully let go of her hand and pulled her into a hug, holding on tight enough to be reassuring without smothering her or being too uncomfortable. She was upset - rightly so, if she was seeing trains rip through walls without warning - and obviously needed the comfort.] Everything's going to be fine. I promise.

[At first, Ariadne was a little startled by the sudden release of her hand. Her anchor had suddenly disappeared and she glanced over at him just as he wrapped his arms around her. The security she felt being so closely and securely held pushed that panic slowly from her mind. She carefully settled a hand on his back, re-anchoring herself in the reality that was the Barge. Or, as close to reality as she could get. She nodded against his chest, regaining her breath much quicker than the last time a train had torn through her walls.]

It's just a flood.

Exactly. [He gently rubbed her back, waiting for her to calm down. He was happy to stand there as long as she needed him to, happy to be doing something to help and definitely not minding the contact. It was sort of reassuring to him too.

After a moment, he risked a question. It was getting easier to figure out what was safe to say and what wasn't.] Do you need anything? Tell me what you need me to do.

[Ariadne was incredibly grateful that Dick had basically volunteered to be an anchor and for a few moments just focused on that. The train wasn't real, despite what she'd seen. It was just a flood. At the question she simply shook her head a little. This was enough, this was just fine. It was the sleeping part that had to come later that she wasn't so sure about. But he was already spending a good part of his day with her.]

I'll... [be okay? How many times had she said that already today?]

[He smiled slightly, still gently rubbing her back. It was just a flood, it'd all be over soon, and then they could get on with their lives as usual. Or, as usual as things ever got on the Barge, anyway. But until then, barring some kind of crisis or if Costigan needed more stuff for the flood induced headache, he was okay with staying here and keeping her company.]

Yeah. You'll be okay.

[Ariadne absolutely appreciated the gentle touch on her back. It was just enough to remind her that this world was real, but not harsh enough to unsettle her further. By this point, the architect was a little ready for the flood to be over. It was disrupting conversations and generally making her feel twelve different levels of crazy. Carefully, she shifted so she could stare better out at the living room. Things were mostly back to normal, the walls cementing shut and the couch knitting whole again.]

Do you... mind staying a little longer?

[Her confidence had been slowly drained by the number of trains that had plowed through her wall.]

[When she shifted to get a better look at the room, he pulled out of the hug a little, still with a hand on her back to make sure she was anchored in the here and now, but enough that she could pull away if she wanted to try and get back to normal.]

Of course not. Didn't really have anything else planned.

[The second part was almost purely teasing, while the first was sincere, if a little flippant. He didn't want to be making too big a deal out of it.]

[Ariadne didn't pull away, still staring at the living room as things became whole again. She was trying to get used to it, really, but the architect had put up a boundary between reality and dreaming and these sort of things disrupted it quite deeply.]

I can make some tea.

[But she's not moving anywhere, gaze still fixed on the room and mind focused on Dick's hand on her back.]

[Dick didn't move, still sensing her discomfort about the situation the flood was causing. He squeezed her shoulder gently.]

I can do it, if you want to take it easy.

[He nodded towards the couch, trying to suggest she sit down and get comfortable without accidentally calling the couch the Batcouch or something equally embarrassing and incriminating.]

[Ariadne hesitated before nodding, momentarily forgetting that she'd closed that kitchen door for a reason. However, once she did, she shook her head.]

I can do it.

[She carefully pulled away from him, stepping over the last remaining open tract in the floor.]

[Dick nodded, but shadowed her carefully, not wanting to wander too far or leave her alone in case she freaked out again. There was still a couple feet in between them, but he didn't sit down or wait for her to come back from the kitchen.]

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