tushanshu | ℛedwing oo1

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ℛedwing oo1 - Text;

[Tim chooses to keep his first entry to text, avoiding having his voice and face on the network immediately. This decision is aided by his mistrust of the city he's found himself in and by the fact that his uniform doesn't quite cover him as much as he's used to. He's still unsure whether the city is part of the Unternet or not, because how else does he explain the uniform. But then where were Tam and Lonnie - he'd been with them moments before waking.]

I know I'm not the only one who's been brought here, so I'm curious - how many non-natives got fished out of the ocean? Also, have any of you heard of the Ünternet? [He keeps the second question vague because it's easier than directly asking if any of the Bat family are here.] More importantly: has anyone been here long enough to get a decent lay of the land and an idea where to get a good, strong cup of coffee? [Because he has a headache like you wouldn't know.]

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[Bruce takes off his mask as well - a simple domino, all he has at the moment - and sets it down on the counter. The work-out felt good. Working with Tim was likewise.

And Bruce is just not going to mention the uniform, and all its similarities to Nightwing. The Ünternet ties into matters of self perception, and Bruce honestly isn't surprised that Tim's subconscious would wish to construe itself this way.

The way Tim is automatically taking charge, however, makes him smile just a a tiny bit. It's brief, fleeting, and then he's back to business.]

I'm from before either of you. Roughly two weeks before I went global with Batman Incorporated.

[He may not have lived it, but Bruce knows his own timelines, and where he'd expected to be in the world at that point. In fact, he can probably accurately guesstimate everything he's done from that point until even Damian's timeline. It's a genius thing.]

[Tim takes a moment to process that and slot Bruce into his own timeline. Before he'd broken Lynx out of prison and before he'd gone to Russia to investigate and potentially shut down the Ünternet. It's still a mystery as to how he was pulled from a virtual world into one where the technology clearly doesn't exist. At least Bruce's presence here confirms that this isn't a trick - no facsimile of Bruce could match his detective skills and figure out who he was from a vague text conversation.]

That was over a month ago for me. No idea how long for Damian. He doesn't know I'm here, just that someone who knows of the Ünternet is here - so realistically I could be anyone from a number of criminals and heroes. I think I'll keep it that way for now.

[He frowns for a second and contemplates another cup of coffee. He's tired and needs to crash for a couple of hours at least, but there are more important things to do before he can allow time for that.]

[Bruce nods, accepting the information, and Tim's wishes to remain anonymous to Damian. He doesn't exactly like it, but he can understand Tim's reasoning and respect it, inasmuch as he ever can.

He switches topics.]

Tim. I haven't had much of an opportunity yet to say this to you, in my time, but you did good work while I was away.

['Even the parts I didn't agree with'. He doesn't need to say it outloud, since he suspects that Tim's already perfectly aware. But it's still something he wants - needs - to say. He can see the White Casebook file he wrote on Tim not so very long ago in his mind's eye, crisp and clear as if he were looking at it now.

So my task with Tim is one I have to work hard for myself as well: never to forget you have allies in this war, that you need those allies and friends... and to try, just a little bit, to enjoy those ties a little more, because they're so fragile.

That task is hardly ended. It's something they'll both struggle with. Possibly for the rest of their lives.

Bruce doesn't like the shadows that Tim's wrapped himself in. Because although he's perfectly capable of seeing Tim as the man he's become - the next great Detective, the vigilante - when he looks at him he can't help but see that young boy who was so determined to save Batman from himself, and how many times he performed in that same capacity through the years.

And though he's tried to be there for Tim as well, the debt that he owes him, as Bruce and Batman both, isn't so easily repaid.

But that doesn't mean he isn't willing to try.]

I'm proud of you.

[It's not so much that he doesn't want Damian to know, it's more than he doesn't entirely trust the brat to not slip up. While it's true that their relationship had come to a unspoken truce (they both disliked each other and that was never going to change) and Dick had done good work with him, Tim still believed it was only a matter of time before he messed up.

That and part of him wanted to see what Damian would do with the knowledge that there may have been a villain here, rather than another ally.

Bruce's next words make him turn, giving him his full attention.

When Ra's al Ghul had thrown him out of the window after Tim had defeated him by successfully protecting everything dear to Bruce, he had known Bruce would be proud of him, but never expected to hear it.

It takes a lot to keep the shock from his face, but he manages to translate it into a soft smile. Bruce rarely praised any of them like that - but then, Tim had to remember that something in Bruce had changed since he'd come back to the present. Hearing those words made his chest swell.]

I... just did what I thought you would. That's all. [And yet at the same time, it reminds Tim how scared he is. Scared that he's becoming Bruce. Or worse, his own Batman - maybe even that Batman.]

Don't cheapen it.

[It's an admonition, yes, but a gentle one. As far as Bruce is capable of, anyway.]

I trained you, Tim. But you've been making your own choices for a while now. You aren't in my shadow any more.

['And you're a better man than I am'.

He doesn't add that part. But he does pull Tim into a hug.

Showing affection isn't easy for Bruce when there's the slightest chance his mind can interpret it as being for his benefit. But it's... easy. Comparatively. When it's meant for others.]

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