Frank Miller, what have you done.

[goddamnbats]

Who the hell do you think you are? I don't have time for this crap, I've got places to be and I don't take orders from anyone. I do what I want, when I want, whenever I want because I am the goddamn Batman and I do what I goddamn want.

Comments

[hackingyoursensors]

[You need a goddamn intervention, Bruce.]

Did you really just say "I do what I want"? Are...you feeling okay?

[goddamnbats]

[You need to go hunt a rat, kid.]

Did I ask for your opinion? No, so shut up.

[hackingyoursensors]

[I don't want your goddamn rats, goddamn Batman.]

What?

Okay, who are you and why are you impersonating Batman?

[goddamnbats]

[Narrows his eyes. The boy's physical appearance is dead on for Dick's but his body language and demeanor is different.]

You've got exactly ten seconds to tell me why you're impersonating the kid or else I'll get the answer out of you the hard way.

[hackingyoursensors]

I'm not impersonating anybody.

[goddamnbats]

Five seconds.

[hackingyoursensors]

I'm. Not. Impersonating. Anybody.

And when Batman finds out about this, he's going to be ticked.

[goddamnbats]

Two...one...zero. [Doesn't want to hurt the kid but at the same time, he needs to find out where the brat is. He might be a brat but he's his brat now, his protege.

Lunges forward to try and grab him by the front of his cape.]

Did you not hear me? I'm the goddamn Batman!

[hackingyoursensors]

[Ow let go.]

I heard you. But if you were Batman, you wouldn't be doing this!

[He tries to kick Batman. "Tries" being the operative word.]

[goddamnbats]

[Uses his other arm to block the kick.]

What would I be doing then, huh? Would I be sitting here, smiling and asking you nicely where you took Robin? [Though the kid's voice isn't showing any signs of deception and neither is his body language.]

[hackingyoursensors]

[Tries another kick]

No, but you wouldn't be grabbing me like this! And you'd know I am Robin.

[goddamnbats]

Try kicking me again and I'm going to break your leg. [Stares him down for a long, hard moment before he finally releases him]

You're not lying, I can tell that much.

[hackingyoursensors]

[He doesn't do anything once he's set down.]

I'm still not convinced that you're Batman. Why are you so angry?

[goddamnbats]

You haven't spent much time in Gotham, have you? When kids disappear they are usually found in a ditch, mutilated and broken. Unless I get there first.

[hackingyoursensors]

I live in Gotham. [TV-PG Gotham so.]

But Batman still does his job without resorting to unnecessary violence and screaming about how he "does what he wants." All he has to do is show up and the perps freak out.

[goddamnbats]

You're too soft to live in the Gotham I'm talking about, that place would eat you alive. [He's definitely not his Robin, he doesn't have that killer instinct in him. The same killer instinct that he's been working on diminishing. Honestly, he's more worried about what would happen to the thug who came across his Robin than vice-versa.]

[hackingyoursensors]

Not being bloodthirsty doesn't make me soft.

[goddamnbats]

I've seen rat shit more terrifying than you, kid. It's not a case of being bloodthirsty. Criminals have short memories, I give them reminders.

[hackingyoursensors]

Being underestimated gives me the advantage.

But our method works too. You should see their faces when Batman shows up. Being violent isn't the only way to intimidate someone.

[goddamnbats]

Don't sit here and lecture me about things you don't know. Do you think that hasn't been tried? The real world doesn't work like that. Fear's an important tactic but it's not nearly enough.

[hackingyoursensors]

So you just...gave up? Gave up on your ideals, the ideals you taught me?

[goddamnbats]

Don't act like you know a goddamn thing about me or why I do what I do. Gotham's a safer place because of it, that's all that matters.

[hackingyoursensors]

I know why you do what you do. But "the ends justify the means" mentality... Batman, that's a slippery slope.

[goddamnbats]

Tell me, what do you do when you see a cop let a rapist walk free? When some bastard can gun down a kid's parents in public and rather than help the kid, the cops snatch him to give him away to a psychopath? Do you really think saying "boo" is going to help anyone?

[hackingyoursensors]

The Commissioner would weed out corruption like that in a heartbeat.

Yeah, the criminals break out of jail; yeah, the legal system sometimes fails. But Batman and Robin aren't bullies, and people respect us because of that.