still the mun's favourite batman, tho.

[punliners]

Look, I get it, all right? You're working with the old man now, and he's one heck of a handful. Sure, I'm not a big fan of scoring second billing, but when you get right down to it... I don't really mind the vacation.

[pause.]

Wow, I actually just called Gotham a vacation. That's it, I'm officially losing it.

[HANDS IN THE AIR he is nhft.]

Comments

[demon_brat]

It can be.

[punliners]

Kid, have you ever even had a vacation?

[HE'S GONNA GO WITH 'NO'...]

Also, hey.

[There are very few people Damian would accept hugs from, and Terry knows it. So he doesn't try. He does, however, bump the kid's shoulder lightly with his elbow.]

[accidentalspark]

Vacations are stupid.

[girlfriend_beyond]

I wouldn't have believed it, either. But even Gotham at its worst hasn't had a world-eating abomination yet, that I know of. Unless you know more?

[demon_brat]

... um. Hey?

[And Terry gets a quick, small, uncertain smile - and a nudge back. Because he's missed him, too, and he doesn't like that, but it's... better, now.]

Not vacation as such, no.

But being back in Gotham means you're back with your family, right? And the city can be more restful than some places.

[acrobatical]

Make sure you swing by Blüdhaven, too. Otherwise you miss out on the full vacation experience.

[beyondschway]

Someone else is working for Mr. Wayne? Does that mean you're not on-call for once?

[...not sure if she wants to get her hopes up here.]

[stealstires]

Someone's dramatic.

[punliners]

[Terry grins a little. It's nice to know some things never change-- well, any more than they did after spending six months with a Robin. This Robin in particular, who... needed him in a way that even Matt didn't. Terry reaches over to ruffle Damian's hair affectionately.]

I guess you're right. I miss you guys, though.

['You guys'. Damian, Katniss, Michiko. Dick. ... A version of Dick that wasn't a clone out to stab him, anyway.]

[sibylline]

A little dire, yes. But surely this isn't the first sign you've officially lost it.

[punliners]

[His expression softens a little. Because Katniss.]

You think so?

[His tone is idly skeptical, lightly teasing. He's missed her.]

[accidentalspark]

They get boring. And Gotham never sounded like a vacation either.

[demon_brat]

Hey!

[But he doesn't bat his hand away, or flinch. Just glares.]

>Tt.< Unless we show up in your Gotham, you'll always be missing somebody, won't you.

[... and even absence doesn't change some things.]

[punliners]

[Danger, Will Robinson.]

Crazy AI for me.

[Also: she is totally getting a hug right about now because he's never not happy to see her.]

[punliners]

[Dick gets an obligatory bro-fist. Because, damn, he missed him too. For all their issues and occasional metaphorical throw-down.]

Right, right. How could I forget it? It's all blue skies and white beaches and sunbathing by smog for me from here on out.

[punliners]

[He smiles a bit.]

Nope. Just me. Free and clear for the foreseeable future.

[He tucks his hands in his pockets in a halfhearted attempt at being bashful. It doesn't stick.]

[girlfriend_beyond]

[Nnnot as into the hug as she usually is. She has unresolved Issues with Terry in her game.]

We've got one of those, though she'd argue the crazy part. But we've got a truce with her, and even if we didn't, she has enough self-preservation instincts not to start something with two Batmans around.

[tenofspades]

Calling Gotham a vacation? [Pfft.]

You are losing it.

[punliners]

[... Terry stares for a full second, which is quite the long time for a Batman.

He'd heard about Jason from Dick and Tim. Of course he did. He was the cautionary tale about reckless he'd been with the Joker. But hearing the story - oh yeah, in our universe the second Robin was killed by the Joker - and seeing the reality of it is two different things.]

Comes with the territory, kid.

[apologetic shrug.]

Who're you?

[punliners]

[That gets a jaunty grin and a gesture with a cellphone.]

I guess you could say I hear voic--

[wait a minute.]

-- Commissioner?

[This is by far the weirdest thing he's encountered in a string of very weird encounters.]

[beyondschway]

[Yeah, she doesn't buy that bashfulness, Terry.]

Well, McGinnis, how does Rhino's Chili sound tonight? I've got a lot of rain-checks to cash in.

[punliners]

[He doesn't have an answer immediately.]

Hey, it's got some great tourist spots.

[tenofspades]

Maybe if you're lucky enough to be staying in the better side of town. [With the job she's got, she can't really afford living in the lap of luxury like she used to. Or anywhere near luxury, really.]

[punliners]

[Though he knows Damian didn't mean it that way, Terry can't help but think of his Dad. It's been years since he died. Funny what can bring it back.]

Yeah. I guess I will.

[He shrugs.]

But, you know. Cross-dimensional rifts are definitely a thing. I wouldn't rule it out.

[punliners]

Sometimes boring is nice.

[When you're busy spearheading a revolution, or fighting a legion of crime in one of the world's most violent cities.]

And yeah, Gotham-- it's.

[He rubs at the back of his neck.]

Home, I guess.