Voice Testing

[just_cant_die]

[A wrinkled face just stares back from his chair. He looks grumpy, or is his face stuck that way? No one really knows, but he's sharp eyes are locked on this mun like a predator, waiting for an open opportunity to strike. Hands folded at the chest level, the silence is broken at last.]

I can see a stunt like this from another youngster in this day and age, but in someone of your age, I would expect a great deal more of. You remind my of a young man I once knew. That isn't a good thing. Quit while you can, kid. You should go home and focus your efforts on something more productive than playing pretend.

[The growl of a dog is heard from beside the chair. A Great Dane-Doberman mix stands from the floor. Bruce pets the dog's head to calm him. The dog obeys, sitting on his hunches, silently.]

I don't think Ace is very fond of this game either.

Comments

I am a horrible, hoooorrible mun.

[peckish4action]

Ace looks super cool!

[flashingtheimpulse]

[Bart grins at the old man as he speeds across the room in a blur, studying everything in the room. When he finally stops moving the young Flash looks back at the dog and smiles.]

Got a sweet setup here man! Makes me almost reconsider the whole giving up thieving thing, but being a superhero is just way more rewarding.

Yes, yes you are.

[just_cant_die]

[Bruce gapes slightly. Robin? Wait, which one was it? Each had held their own traits, so he could always tell the difference. Studying the young man, his old eyes finally gape wider.]

[It was him...]

This isn't an Ace you would recall... Robin.

[Because he can't bring himself to say, Richard 'Dick' Grayson. Nope.]

[just_cant_die]

[Oh good grief. He barely could stand Terry and Max when they were excited about something. He didn't need another Flash with their attention span...]

[Ace seems unsettled by the speed the other is moving. He;s back on his feet, ready to protect his master.]

Heel, boy. [Now, he looks at you.] There is a reason the phrase 'crime doesn't pay' hasn't been forgotten, young man.

The other option was Damian? Which, AFAIK, would have been worse. Considering.

[peckish4action]

Definitely not. Never got a dog, after I moved in.

[Okay, that much of a reaction? Dick's totally paying so, so much attention. And he adds, quietly.]

Hey, B.

1/2

[killerinblacknpink]

HI

2/2

[killerinpinknblack]

OLD MAN!

Never existed for this guy, so that would have been SOOOOOO bad!

[just_cant_die]

[Was this karma or something? Haunting him with the face of his first protege was almost enough to make him reach for his heart medication. Especially after the last two times they had seen one another...]

[Ace seems to sense his master's emotions, looking up at his with a soft whimper. Why to give away his last efforts at a poker face, boy...]

You're a lot younger then the last time I saw you.

[flashingtheimpulse]

[The kid ran his hand through his hair as he paused to seriously consider the old man's comment.]

I uh, I'm not so sure bout that...I mean crime pays, and pays well if your are skilled. Only problem is, being a criminal takes a toll on a person. Maybe be small at first, but for all the wealth or power gained, you lose more of what made you a real person.

[Bart smiled again as his moment of contemplation passed.]

Oh man, sorry bout freaking out your dog! Was just out for a jog when I spotted this place. Gotta say, if you were going for the whole abandoned creepy mansion vibe, then you really nailed it! Figured I'd give it a quick peek, and imagine my surprise to find it not empty at all!

And with what happened with Ra's and Talia... pretty horrible.

[peckish4action]

[Bruce, you are a breath away from getting hugged. Ace, too, but you first!]

Well, if I said I was surprised by that, you'd probably disown me as protege of the world's greatest detective.

[And, because it seems like Bruce can use hearing it.]

Hey. I'm fine.

[just_cant_die]

[This wouldn't be his first pair of odd twin girls. He just blinks back at them. He knows he's old. He's not in denial or anything.]

[just_cant_die]

Is that including the repercussions of all your crimes? The lives you harmed? The consequences of your actions? Does it really pay what you think?

[Coming from Bruce, crime did nothing but take from people, and it took almost everything he cared about. That was why he wore such a serious expression on his face when he said what he said. He rubbed Ace behind his ears, relaxing his companion. The comments about his home though...]

Maybe that's just my decorations?

[killerinpinknblack]

Did you break your voice?

[flashingtheimpulse]

Can't go back and change what I did, no matter how much I'd like to...kept telling myself I wasn't hurting anyone, just taking a little bling from the upper crusts to keep a roof over my head for a night and some food in my stomach...but even then it wasn't right.

[A look of shame and sadness crossed the kid's face as the old guy's words cut into him.]

Doesn't matter if I was just a kid growing up on the streets, it was still wrong. Luckily my friend Clark gave me the much needed super kick to my backside, and I went legit after that! Spent the last few years working to help people in trouble, and to do what I can to make this place better.

[The thought of his friend, his first real friend, cheered him up a little and he offered a half smile to the guy.]

Anyways, look at me rambling on, and not even offering a proper intro! Name's Bart, but people call me Impulse!

He kissed that... and almost had sex that that... He's not proud

[just_cant_die]

[Do you want to give him a heart attack?! Besides, he's an old man with a cane now. Be gentle...]

[Disowned? That hurt more than Dick could ever have intended. He regretted cutting the closest person to a son he had ever had out of his life, but he couldn't bare the shame of what he had done to him. Looking down at Ace, he finally said...]

I can see you are. What are you doing these days?

And then a baby happened. Yep. Dick's still the better option.

[peckish4action]

[IT IS A VERY GENTLE HUG but Bruce looks like he needs it really, really badly. Especially after the reaction to that simple word.]

Hey, hey. I know you won't. That was a joke, B. I make those, remember? I just meant that, if I couldn't figure out that you'd expect me to be much older? You'd be disappointed in me. But we do that all the time, and then I do better. And it works out.

And, well. Being Robin. In Gotham, with the Team. Watching your back like I'm supposed to, whether you're right there or not. Try to make Alfred feel like he has to check all the chandeliers before he turns in for the night. Learning how to be a better Robin. All the good stuff!

[just_cant_die]

I've taken in a few wayward individuals in my time. If you understand what you have done and make a true turn about, I believe in second chances.

[Impluse, huh? Kal-El made interesting friends, while he sat in his house with his dog...]

A pleasure to meet you, Bart. My name is Wayne, Bruce Wayne.

[just_cant_die]

No, I just say little reason to speak.

[thebetterweapon]

[Because Creed dismisses the dog, because he's an asshole.]

Like any of them listen.

[flashingtheimpulse]

[The kid nodded earnestly at the mention of making a true turn about and grinned when the old man introduced himself. The grin rapidly turned into a look of shock as he suddenly recognized the name.]

Wayne...holy crap! You are that famous rich guy who owns most of Gotham! Man, that is crazy, but I uh, I thought you were younger...

[Bart's mind raced as he tried to solve the mental puzzle that wracked his brain and when the kid realized his error he slapped his forehead.]

Oh man, stupid question but what year is it here? Think I may have uh, well I may have brushed a little to close against the freaking Speed Force and launched myself ahead in the timeline a bit...

[alexisluthor]

Bruce Wayne? Wow, you're a total legend in the business community!

Not in Beyond Universe... Unless you count Terry

[just_cant_die]

[Hugs aren't something he does, but he doesn't push you away. Keep it together, Batman. He thought about reaching around to hug back, and after a long pause, he does.]

Yeah, you do... I wouldn't disown you for that though. You'd just have extra homework for a while.

[Everything sounded like he was doing well. Hadn't left for Bludhaven yet though. He deduced that he had not shown his worst colors to Dick yet. That must be why he was so kind to him right now...]

Glad to hear it. You must keep... Alfred busy.

[Alfred... He missed him, too...]

[just_cant_die]

[Bruce can't help but grin when Bart goes on about him. It's not like he doesn't like his ego getting stroked. When he starts talking about the Speed Force, the old man raises an eyebrow.]

I'm not so sure that's the only reason for it. I've met a few people from my past now. It seems more like a paradox than anything. An oddly balanced paradox...

[Ace sits back on his hunches, calm now that Bruce doesn't seem bothered. He does keep an eye on the guy though. It's not like he's Terry.]

[killerinblacknpink]

You say?

[flashingtheimpulse]

[Bart began to pace as he tried to sort out what else could have drawn him to this place, and sighed when he realized how much of the situation was over his head.]

Don't suppose the Justice League is still around? We were just starting to get up and running over the last year or so, but if anyone can sort this out it'll be those guys! Heck, Ollie may have a freaking time machine in a spare closet somewhere!