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tanarillWell.
So I get in to work, and my computer will not start. I call India. Forty minutes later my computer decides to stop dicking around with me and starts, but I can't get to my email. Further calls to India. I regain access to email, and find that I have a number, including one from Big Sis. Yay!
Day remains more or less normal until noon, when my wireless card turns itself off. Well, okay, I told it to restart because getting a new IP usually fixes the low connectivity issue. But it turned itself off and then the comp froze, which meant a hard shut down, and the card was off when I turned it back on. And, because I am not my comp's sysadmin for some fucking stupid reason, I have to call India again.
I (or rather, some dude in India) make(s) my comp work again by two, and I spend a happy half-hour responding to a sudden flood of emails about the Thing on Friday. Apparently, people are morons and the first map of the campus isn't good enough, so more maps with the parking lots highlighted in right purple needed to be sent. I was planning on walking.
I left work at two-thirty to go see my dentist-cousin and get my teeth cleaned. Which I did, and was happily done by four. So then I hopped off to the Bloomfield Township Library, which it turns out has pretty much the entire run of Outsiders in trade paperback. I got those, because, Dick! I also got Impulse: Reckless Youth, because everybody loves Impulse. I mean, how can you not love a kid who solves the Riddler's riddle by looking under every porch until he finds the bomb?
And then I gave the Impulse book to JJ, because he loves Impulse too. (You mean there's someone less mature than the Flash?) Then took him out to eat because the parents went out for some not-with-kids time and I didn't feel like pizza-from-a-box and besides, I never take him out. We went to a Chinese buffet and ate too much.
And now I am back and waiting for someone to post scans from the latest Blue Beetle. Because I need by monthly dosage of Jaime Reyes awesome.
Title: Earning Wings
Fandom: DCU
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Slash, slashity slash, gayness, allusions to gay sex, and people being cut up because of carelessness. And Lian.
"You came," said the Red Hood. Jason Todd. Second Robin, and- "I didn't think you'd actually show up."
"Yeah, well," shrugged Tim Drake, third and current Robin.
"And you think you're ready to face me?"
"I know I don't have a choice."
"You're right," Jason smirked. "You don't."
***
The phone rang. Dick picked it up without opening his eyes, or, indeed, gaining significant amounts of conscoiusness.
"Dick, it's Roy."
"Roy, are you aware that it's nearly three AM?"
"Yeah. Tim hasn't come home." Roy's voice was tight with worry.
"So?" asked Dick. "He does this."
"Not without checking in, he doesn't."
Dick was instantly awake. "When was the last time you heard from him?"
"When he left Titans Tower. This afternoon."
"That was hours ago," said Dick, almost accusingly. "You check on Lian every twenty minutes."
"Lian can't take care of herself. Tim can."
"I know," said Dick grimly.
***
"That. Was. Pathetic," growled the Red Hood.
"Well, exscuse me for actually doing my job," snapped back Tim. He'd gotten a nice set of bruises, including one on his abdomen that was going to be real beauty from a bullet, and was bleeding gently out of a shallow cut. He hissed when Jason swabbed it with alcohol. "We can't all kill indiscriminately."
"We could, actually," said the Red Hood. "But I don't expect you to. Get some sleep. You have a long night tomorrow."
***
The steady tap of Oracle's typing stopped, and Barbara Gordon sat back.
"Well?" asked Roy.
"I can't find him," she said, removing her glasses and pinching the bridge of her nose.
"But that's-" began Jaime Reyes, the Blue Beetle, on another screen. "I mean, I thought you could find anyone."
"Not Robin, not if he doesn't want to be found."
"We have to find him," said Wonder Girl grimly. "The last time he did this-"
"We'll find him," said Dick. "We'll just have to do it the old-fashioned way. Was he acting strange in any way this weekend?"
***
"Slightly better. Not nearly good enough, but better."
"Do you have this entire town bugged?"
The Red Hood didn't respond. He was cleaning his guns with religious care. Then again, he lived by them.
"Jason," said Tim awkwardly, and Jason paused. "I'm sorry."
***
"Daddy?" asked Lian, when Roy went to tuck her in.
"Yes?"
"Where's Uncle Tim?"
"I don't know."
"He promised to finish reading Arabian Nights to me. He promised."
"I'm sure we'll find him soon," said Roy with confidence he didn't feel.
"Daddy, I miss him."
"Me too."
***
"You've made it to the four-hour mark," said Jason. "Good job."
"Jason, I appreciate what you're trying to do, really. But-"
"But nothing. You don't get to be Robin without earning your wings!" Jason looked momentarily shocked, and then added, "And I'm sorry too."
***
"All right, kid, talk," said Nightwing, which was how Jaime Reyes woke up.
"Di-" he began, and a hand was clapped over his mouth.
"Not here. It says in the Titan's database that your scarab can track anyone you've ever met."
"Met since scarab fused himself to my spine," corrected Jaime.
"Which includes Robin. So where is he?"
"I don't know," said Jaime, and something about the way he said it pulled Nightwing short. "Scarab won't tell me."
"Scarab won't-why wouldn't it?"
"How should I know?"
"It's your-"
"Scarab is his own," interrupted Jaime. "But I trust him. He told us about the Reach even though it went against everything he was made to be. If he's not telling now, he's not telling for a reason."
" . . . I hope you're right, kid."
***
"Is your arm broken?" asked Jason.
"My wrist is sprained. I'll be fine."
"Well, you're not going out tonight anyway. I was going to invite you on this gang bust, but-get some rest."
"Yes, mother."
"That's brother."
***
"Okay," said Oracle's crackly voice through the speakers of Tim's Batwing. "We know where he isn't."
"Yay," said Kid Devil flatly. "That's helpful. Really."
"We know more than that," said the Blue Beetle.
"We do?" asked Miss Martian.
"Kid's right," said Nightwing. "No signs of struggle, place clean and well-hidden and locked up tight. He wasn't forced."
"Or whoever took him wants us to think he wasn't forced," said Roy, grimly.
"Oh," said Miss Martian.
***
Jason closed his eyes as Tim pulled the needle through his skin, but made no move otherwise. He had to admit, the younger man did a neat job. Of course, he'd learned from Alfred.
"So, you gonna tell me what happened?"
"Gang busted, listen to it on the eleven o'clock news."
"Someone managed to knife you."
"Luck."
Tim said nothing, but rolled his eyes.
***
"Dammit, baby bro, where are you?" said Nightwing, poring over the readouts.
"Dick . . . " said Roy.
"Yeah, I know. Go get some sleep, you'll take over. Usually, you don't try that one for another few hours."
"Usually it isn't my husband who's missing." He made no move to leave the console.
"Fine. I'll go get us both some coffee." Roy was tired, bone-tired. Tim had been missing more than a week and absolutely no one could find him. Black Canary had taken him off the active League roster for the duration, but even so. He knew it wasn't healthy to work untill he collapsed and sleep four hours before getting back up. It was his Tim out there.
Somewhere.
***
Moving was easier than staying still, but made it more likely that he'd be spotted. On the other hand, staying still gave Jason time to catch up with him. Tim was tired and determined, and the cops were starting to catch on to the lack of Red Hood. If this went on much longer, they'd have to skip town.
Last night he'd done seven hours, though. He set his mouth grimly.
There wouldn't be a tomorrow night.
***
"Found him," said Oracle.
"Where?" asked Roy, bothering with the niceties about as much as Oracle had.
"Gotham. Right on the border with Bludhaven. But-"
"But?"
"Someone sent this map using Tim's access. Be careful."
***
Tim was tied to a chair. Aside from that, though, he was more or less unharmed. Or at least no mre harmed than he would have been after his usual patrol and hopped up on, say, painkillers. Which he was. He blinked muzzily at Roy and them laughed weakly.
"Shh," said Roy, working on the ropes.
"'M fine," said Tim. "Arm itches."
Further inspection yeilded that his arm itched because of the neatly bandanged cut, halfway healed. Whoever had done the bangading had done an excellent job. Roy looked at it. This didn't make sense. Who would capture Tim for nearly two weeks and then let him go? And why wasn't Tim being helpful? Even drugged to his eyeballs on fear, Tim had a plan.
His current plan seemed to involve burying his head in Roy's neck and falling alseep. Roy didn't object, but-
"What is going on?"
***
Tim Drake woke up because Roy was kissing him. Well, that was untrue. Roy was doing a lot more than kissing him, apparently reassuring himself that Tim was fine inch by inch, all over his body. He was fine, although the bruises were in different places than they'd been two weeks ago.
"Tim?" asked Roy.
"Here," said Tim, and Roy slithered up his body.
Roy kissed him, licking into his mouth and getting reaquainted with his tongue and when he pulled back, Tim could still taste his closeness. "Are you okay?"
"I'm . . . not bad," said Tim. What was hurting him the most was how bitter Jason was, even now. How little he trusted them, even to the point he'd felt he had to leave Tim tied.
Roy kissed him again. "Ready to talk about it?"
"I-did you know Jason very well?"
"The second Robin?" asked Roy. "I don't think anyone knew him very well. I'd heard he was back-" he stopped as a thought occured. "Did he do this to you?"
"No," said Tim. "He . . . I thought he hated me, but it's more like he's angry all the time and I was just someone to be angry at. I was. Well. You said that no one really knew him, and you were right. So I went to go get to know him."
Roy hissed in shock, and pressed a finger to one of the bruises. "And these?"
"Where do you think two Bat-trained vigilates are going to talk? Not a coffee shop, I'll tell you that much."
"Oh." Roy was quiet for a minute, and then said, "So? What did you learn?"
Tim sighed. "He's lonely. And just because he doesn't follow Batman's morals doesn't mean he doesn't have any."
"And?"
"And he made me earn the right to be Robin."
"You've been Robin," said Roy. "For years."
"Not as far as he was concerned. And it wasn't-it was difficult, not impossible. He does care, though."
"I bet," muttered Roy, and then Tim pressed a finger to his lips.
"He's my brother," said Tim, tapping the finger. "We came to terms."
Roy opened his mouth and sucked the finger inside, licking and nibbling until Tim pulled back. "Is-will he be back?"
Tim smiled. "He'll send birthday presents to Lian, okay? I don't know if he'll come closer, but-he's watching over us as well as just watching."
Roy seemed about to say something uncomplimentary, but thought better of it. "Okay. If you say so."
"I do," he rolled into his husband, breathing deeply. "I missed you."
"Not more than I missed you," said Roy, and he couldn't really argue. He'd at least known Roy was fine, if frantic.
"So I was thinking romantic candlelit dinner followed by a nice long walk on the beach-" began Tim, smirking slightly.
"I was thinking," said Roy, pulling him in and whispering in his ear, "that we could skip straight to the sex."
"That's-ah!-that's good too."
Roy smirked, and continued.
Also, Fail Blog. Because I had to share.
So I get in to work, and my computer will not start. I call India. Forty minutes later my computer decides to stop dicking around with me and starts, but I can't get to my email. Further calls to India. I regain access to email, and find that I have a number, including one from Big Sis. Yay!
Day remains more or less normal until noon, when my wireless card turns itself off. Well, okay, I told it to restart because getting a new IP usually fixes the low connectivity issue. But it turned itself off and then the comp froze, which meant a hard shut down, and the card was off when I turned it back on. And, because I am not my comp's sysadmin for some fucking stupid reason, I have to call India again.
I (or rather, some dude in India) make(s) my comp work again by two, and I spend a happy half-hour responding to a sudden flood of emails about the Thing on Friday. Apparently, people are morons and the first map of the campus isn't good enough, so more maps with the parking lots highlighted in right purple needed to be sent. I was planning on walking.
I left work at two-thirty to go see my dentist-cousin and get my teeth cleaned. Which I did, and was happily done by four. So then I hopped off to the Bloomfield Township Library, which it turns out has pretty much the entire run of Outsiders in trade paperback. I got those, because, Dick! I also got Impulse: Reckless Youth, because everybody loves Impulse. I mean, how can you not love a kid who solves the Riddler's riddle by looking under every porch until he finds the bomb?
And then I gave the Impulse book to JJ, because he loves Impulse too. (You mean there's someone less mature than the Flash?) Then took him out to eat because the parents went out for some not-with-kids time and I didn't feel like pizza-from-a-box and besides, I never take him out. We went to a Chinese buffet and ate too much.
And now I am back and waiting for someone to post scans from the latest Blue Beetle. Because I need by monthly dosage of Jaime Reyes awesome.
Title: Earning Wings
Fandom: DCU
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Slash, slashity slash, gayness, allusions to gay sex, and people being cut up because of carelessness. And Lian.
"You came," said the Red Hood. Jason Todd. Second Robin, and- "I didn't think you'd actually show up."
"Yeah, well," shrugged Tim Drake, third and current Robin.
"And you think you're ready to face me?"
"I know I don't have a choice."
"You're right," Jason smirked. "You don't."
***
The phone rang. Dick picked it up without opening his eyes, or, indeed, gaining significant amounts of conscoiusness.
"Dick, it's Roy."
"Roy, are you aware that it's nearly three AM?"
"Yeah. Tim hasn't come home." Roy's voice was tight with worry.
"So?" asked Dick. "He does this."
"Not without checking in, he doesn't."
Dick was instantly awake. "When was the last time you heard from him?"
"When he left Titans Tower. This afternoon."
"That was hours ago," said Dick, almost accusingly. "You check on Lian every twenty minutes."
"Lian can't take care of herself. Tim can."
"I know," said Dick grimly.
***
"That. Was. Pathetic," growled the Red Hood.
"Well, exscuse me for actually doing my job," snapped back Tim. He'd gotten a nice set of bruises, including one on his abdomen that was going to be real beauty from a bullet, and was bleeding gently out of a shallow cut. He hissed when Jason swabbed it with alcohol. "We can't all kill indiscriminately."
"We could, actually," said the Red Hood. "But I don't expect you to. Get some sleep. You have a long night tomorrow."
***
The steady tap of Oracle's typing stopped, and Barbara Gordon sat back.
"Well?" asked Roy.
"I can't find him," she said, removing her glasses and pinching the bridge of her nose.
"But that's-" began Jaime Reyes, the Blue Beetle, on another screen. "I mean, I thought you could find anyone."
"Not Robin, not if he doesn't want to be found."
"We have to find him," said Wonder Girl grimly. "The last time he did this-"
"We'll find him," said Dick. "We'll just have to do it the old-fashioned way. Was he acting strange in any way this weekend?"
***
"Slightly better. Not nearly good enough, but better."
"Do you have this entire town bugged?"
The Red Hood didn't respond. He was cleaning his guns with religious care. Then again, he lived by them.
"Jason," said Tim awkwardly, and Jason paused. "I'm sorry."
***
"Daddy?" asked Lian, when Roy went to tuck her in.
"Yes?"
"Where's Uncle Tim?"
"I don't know."
"He promised to finish reading Arabian Nights to me. He promised."
"I'm sure we'll find him soon," said Roy with confidence he didn't feel.
"Daddy, I miss him."
"Me too."
***
"You've made it to the four-hour mark," said Jason. "Good job."
"Jason, I appreciate what you're trying to do, really. But-"
"But nothing. You don't get to be Robin without earning your wings!" Jason looked momentarily shocked, and then added, "And I'm sorry too."
***
"All right, kid, talk," said Nightwing, which was how Jaime Reyes woke up.
"Di-" he began, and a hand was clapped over his mouth.
"Not here. It says in the Titan's database that your scarab can track anyone you've ever met."
"Met since scarab fused himself to my spine," corrected Jaime.
"Which includes Robin. So where is he?"
"I don't know," said Jaime, and something about the way he said it pulled Nightwing short. "Scarab won't tell me."
"Scarab won't-why wouldn't it?"
"How should I know?"
"It's your-"
"Scarab is his own," interrupted Jaime. "But I trust him. He told us about the Reach even though it went against everything he was made to be. If he's not telling now, he's not telling for a reason."
" . . . I hope you're right, kid."
***
"Is your arm broken?" asked Jason.
"My wrist is sprained. I'll be fine."
"Well, you're not going out tonight anyway. I was going to invite you on this gang bust, but-get some rest."
"Yes, mother."
"That's brother."
***
"Okay," said Oracle's crackly voice through the speakers of Tim's Batwing. "We know where he isn't."
"Yay," said Kid Devil flatly. "That's helpful. Really."
"We know more than that," said the Blue Beetle.
"We do?" asked Miss Martian.
"Kid's right," said Nightwing. "No signs of struggle, place clean and well-hidden and locked up tight. He wasn't forced."
"Or whoever took him wants us to think he wasn't forced," said Roy, grimly.
"Oh," said Miss Martian.
***
Jason closed his eyes as Tim pulled the needle through his skin, but made no move otherwise. He had to admit, the younger man did a neat job. Of course, he'd learned from Alfred.
"So, you gonna tell me what happened?"
"Gang busted, listen to it on the eleven o'clock news."
"Someone managed to knife you."
"Luck."
Tim said nothing, but rolled his eyes.
***
"Dammit, baby bro, where are you?" said Nightwing, poring over the readouts.
"Dick . . . " said Roy.
"Yeah, I know. Go get some sleep, you'll take over. Usually, you don't try that one for another few hours."
"Usually it isn't my husband who's missing." He made no move to leave the console.
"Fine. I'll go get us both some coffee." Roy was tired, bone-tired. Tim had been missing more than a week and absolutely no one could find him. Black Canary had taken him off the active League roster for the duration, but even so. He knew it wasn't healthy to work untill he collapsed and sleep four hours before getting back up. It was his Tim out there.
Somewhere.
***
Moving was easier than staying still, but made it more likely that he'd be spotted. On the other hand, staying still gave Jason time to catch up with him. Tim was tired and determined, and the cops were starting to catch on to the lack of Red Hood. If this went on much longer, they'd have to skip town.
Last night he'd done seven hours, though. He set his mouth grimly.
There wouldn't be a tomorrow night.
***
"Found him," said Oracle.
"Where?" asked Roy, bothering with the niceties about as much as Oracle had.
"Gotham. Right on the border with Bludhaven. But-"
"But?"
"Someone sent this map using Tim's access. Be careful."
***
Tim was tied to a chair. Aside from that, though, he was more or less unharmed. Or at least no mre harmed than he would have been after his usual patrol and hopped up on, say, painkillers. Which he was. He blinked muzzily at Roy and them laughed weakly.
"Shh," said Roy, working on the ropes.
"'M fine," said Tim. "Arm itches."
Further inspection yeilded that his arm itched because of the neatly bandanged cut, halfway healed. Whoever had done the bangading had done an excellent job. Roy looked at it. This didn't make sense. Who would capture Tim for nearly two weeks and then let him go? And why wasn't Tim being helpful? Even drugged to his eyeballs on fear, Tim had a plan.
His current plan seemed to involve burying his head in Roy's neck and falling alseep. Roy didn't object, but-
"What is going on?"
***
Tim Drake woke up because Roy was kissing him. Well, that was untrue. Roy was doing a lot more than kissing him, apparently reassuring himself that Tim was fine inch by inch, all over his body. He was fine, although the bruises were in different places than they'd been two weeks ago.
"Tim?" asked Roy.
"Here," said Tim, and Roy slithered up his body.
Roy kissed him, licking into his mouth and getting reaquainted with his tongue and when he pulled back, Tim could still taste his closeness. "Are you okay?"
"I'm . . . not bad," said Tim. What was hurting him the most was how bitter Jason was, even now. How little he trusted them, even to the point he'd felt he had to leave Tim tied.
Roy kissed him again. "Ready to talk about it?"
"I-did you know Jason very well?"
"The second Robin?" asked Roy. "I don't think anyone knew him very well. I'd heard he was back-" he stopped as a thought occured. "Did he do this to you?"
"No," said Tim. "He . . . I thought he hated me, but it's more like he's angry all the time and I was just someone to be angry at. I was. Well. You said that no one really knew him, and you were right. So I went to go get to know him."
Roy hissed in shock, and pressed a finger to one of the bruises. "And these?"
"Where do you think two Bat-trained vigilates are going to talk? Not a coffee shop, I'll tell you that much."
"Oh." Roy was quiet for a minute, and then said, "So? What did you learn?"
Tim sighed. "He's lonely. And just because he doesn't follow Batman's morals doesn't mean he doesn't have any."
"And?"
"And he made me earn the right to be Robin."
"You've been Robin," said Roy. "For years."
"Not as far as he was concerned. And it wasn't-it was difficult, not impossible. He does care, though."
"I bet," muttered Roy, and then Tim pressed a finger to his lips.
"He's my brother," said Tim, tapping the finger. "We came to terms."
Roy opened his mouth and sucked the finger inside, licking and nibbling until Tim pulled back. "Is-will he be back?"
Tim smiled. "He'll send birthday presents to Lian, okay? I don't know if he'll come closer, but-he's watching over us as well as just watching."
Roy seemed about to say something uncomplimentary, but thought better of it. "Okay. If you say so."
"I do," he rolled into his husband, breathing deeply. "I missed you."
"Not more than I missed you," said Roy, and he couldn't really argue. He'd at least known Roy was fine, if frantic.
"So I was thinking romantic candlelit dinner followed by a nice long walk on the beach-" began Tim, smirking slightly.
"I was thinking," said Roy, pulling him in and whispering in his ear, "that we could skip straight to the sex."
"That's-ah!-that's good too."
Roy smirked, and continued.
Also, Fail Blog. Because I had to share.
