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[fingerstripes]

Voicemail

"You know what to do."


Friendr

	Friendr
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	» Age: 23 » Seeking: Friends, running partners, anyone interested in getting out and seeing the world. » Preferences: any » Interests: trapeze, martial arts, breakfast foods » Bio: Let’s get to know each other. See what we might have in common.
	base code by photosynthesis
	Dick Grayson
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Comments

[ text ]

[signifies]

I'll be there in a jiffy.

[ He stops to change, in case they decide to go elsewhere. But very shortly after Clark texts, he knocks. ]

Dick?

( no problem. hope it went smoothly! )

[ action ]

[fingerstripes]

Hey. Thanks for coming. [ Dick lets him in, taking care to bolt the array of locks behind them before he turns his full attention on Clark, brow furrowed with concern. ]

I know it's probably the last question you want to answer, but... [ but he cares about the answer. He wants Clark to know that. ]

How are you holding up?

[signifies]

[ Clark glances at the locks to remember how to do them if he ever has to by himself. This is meant to be a safe place. ]

I'm all right, thanks for asking. [ Just as Dick cares about the answer, Clark wants him to know the question is appreciated. ] I will see her again, after all. [ Not Kara. He's still trying to get through that one. ] How're you?

[fingerstripes]

...I'm alright. The news isn't bad, it's just... a lot to process, I guess.

[ A new cascade of deaths and subsequent resurrections. An inescapable destiny under the cowl to look forward to. A child he needs to step up for, who needs him to be someone he isn't yet. And Tim isn't a boy anymore.

Dick takes a seat heavily, offering Clark the bag of candy he'd been working his way through single-handedly. ]

So, you run into Tim or Damian?

[ It had to be one or the other. ]

[signifies]

[ Clark picks out a handful to share between them. He gets no sense this is bad, just that Dick needs someone to talk to, or ask him a few questions that might help. ]

Tim. He's older than you mentioned, isn't he?

[ They can start here. ]

[fingerstripes]

Yeah. Been a little... strange, unpacking that. [ He'll help himself to more at Clark's invitation, face still pensive. ]

I get the sense that there's a lot about the past few years he's not telling me.

[signifies]

Do you think it's because of the person you might become?

[fingerstripes]

There's that possibility, yeah.

[ One Dick kind of wishes was a little easier to laugh off, in the face of everything else.

He remembers Tim's careful words. He runs his hands through his hair. ]

I'm not- I mean I feel like I should be making the effort here not to assume too much? I've made that mistake before. [ With Jason, recently. ]

But it's a little tough to take it in stride when "you're gonna be Batman" has to become your modus operandi.

[ Yeah he's freaking out a little bit. ]

[signifies]

[ He moves his chair to be next to Dick instead of opposite him. ]

You don't have to be okay with what your future is. [ His own doesn't feel as constricting as this, but Clark has no idea how he gets from the person he is to the Superman everyone looks up to. ] I can't imagine what that's like. How far ahead is he?

[fingerstripes]

We didn't really get that far.

[ Too long and not long enough.

But leaning any harder on Tim right now wouldn't be right, when every instinct tells him that isn't what he needs from him. ]

He's been through a lot. And I'm not even sure how fair it is to push, when there's a burden of disclosure there.

You know I kind of worried about that when we met?

[signifies]

I know you did. [ Clark hadn't even met Lex Luthor. ] But it's different between us and between you and Tim. [ He's family. Clark is on the outer circle from that. ] For all we know, this is could be a third timeline.

[fingerstripes]

Yeah. I know.

[ He kind of suspects, actually, if only because the few details Tim mentioned seem to match up to Jason's version of the world more than his.

But on another level, it almost doesn't matter. They're family, and they need him. Dick drags a hand down his face. ]

And Damian, he's- a boy. A child.

We had a relationship, where he's from. A bond. A few years is bad enough, but I missed out on... everything there.

[signifies]

Could you build it again here?

[ He got very lucky with Jon, who had accepted him without question. ]

I know that's not going to fix everything, but we can't help when we're from.

[fingerstripes]

[ He's a child who deserves to be cared for. He's Bruce's child. Dick cannot, will not fail him. ]

He deserves that, yeah. [ It's more worry than real hesitation. He loves Tim dearly, but he's never been solely responsible for him. ]

You got there with Jon.

[ It's that, maybe naively, that gives him hope ]

[signifies]

[ More and more, Clark has been acting on his impulses.

He stands up, and tugs Dick into a hug. ]

You can do this.

[fingerstripes]

[ The hug is unexpected, but like all things precious and rare Dick latches onto it without a second thought. He hugs back fiercely. ]

...You know you've got a knack for this pep talk thing.

[signifies]

[ He'll stay as long as Dick needs. ]

I should change careers?

[fingerstripes]

Nah. You'd be missed in the op eds.

[ Dick lets him go at last, but he's smiling again, all traces of tension wiped away. There isn't much a hug from Superman can't cure. ]

Thanks, Clark.

[signifies]

Always. [ He finally picks up one of the pieces of candy for himself. ] You're not alone.

[fingerstripes]

I appreciate the reminder. [ His hand rests on Clark's shoulder. ]

It goes both ways, Clark. Anytime.