( open ) it started with a spark

[brat]

WHO: Bats, birds, and friends.
WHEN: Late April into May
WHERE: Wayne Tower
WHAT: A Bat-Mingle.
NOTES\WARNINGS:

In the Northern section of Nova City, Wayne Tower stands tall above the multiple empty buildings that make up the cityscape. The top two floors consist of the Wayne Penthouse in gothic architecture while the lower floor and main entrance are largely abandoned and home to a number of fruit bats. A basement serves as a work in progress Batcave, complete with hidden elevator to the penthouse.

And within the Tower itself? Who knows how many bats and birds may be found wandering about. After all, it has WAYNE written in big bold letters right across the front of it. That means it's free real estate, right?

Comments

[brat]

( when damian comes back around, it's with a backpack slung over a shoulder and titus following a step behind him. because of course he's going to fit the great dane into the car that wasn't even meant to be a two-seater. drake could have babysat the dog, but titus is damian's baby, and therefore when he opens the passenger side door, titus jumps into the car first so damian can slide in and try to fit onto the seat beside the massive dog. )

A few days worth of clothes. I assume we'll figure anything else out while we're there.

[batsymbol]

( He watches as Damian and Titus get themselves in the car. Quiet. Not opposed at all to Damian bringing his dog along just... unexpected some. But, with everything in and more or less as settled as they can be, he looks back ahead. )

We should be fine.

( And with that, he ignites the Batmobile's engine and takes them out onto the road, heading for the more wooded areas of Etraya. )

[brat]

( damian has nowhere else to be and nothing else to be overtly concerned with currently, so - bruce says they'll be fine, and he takes him at his word. it's not as if they are anticipating any more missions any time soon, and laura has accelerator.

he lounges back in the passenger seat, one arm wrapped around titus as the dog settles half on top of damian, half on the floor in front of him. )

We need to talk.

[batsymbol]

About what?

( He figures it’s about Dick. Possibly about the arrival of another Jason. Either way, he’s listening as they drive, eyes kept on the road as he takes them away from the Tower, away from everything and everyone else. Just the two of them- well. Three of them out for a bit of camping. Nothing too long and nothing that will take them away from the others to show concern. Just a little distraction for Damian. Some… father-son time. With Titus. )

[brat]

Your use of Venom.

( there's significantly more bothering him, especially with grayson gone. damian hadn't even been able to - talk to him, about any of this. about his father, about how he feels regarding things that have been occurring back home, all of the things damian generally would have gone to him about and now he's - gone.

but this? this is more important than that right now. )

[batsymbol]

My use of what?

( He raises a brow as he looks over to Damian there, genuinely confused, heel of his palm resting against the top of the steering wheel as they go. The look, of course, fleeting, what with his needing to keep his eyes on the road and all. )

[brat]

Venom. The substance you injected when we were fighting on Aphaia.

( maybe he hasn't begun calling it that yet, but damian knows what it is. )

[batsymbol]

( At that, he glances over to Damian again, jaw tight, before he’s looking back ahead and making another turn into the more wooded parts. )

It’s an adrenaline shot. I have it for emergencies.

( Such as when Damian was hit and down and Bruce had been running on fumes at that point. )

[brat]

Adrenaline isn't green.

( he doesn't need to point out anything else, just - this. because it's obvious enough that it isn't just adrenaline regardless. )

Venom is dangerous. Addictive.

[batsymbol]

I'm not addicted to anything. I'm fine.

( He makes sure to put that out there relatively quickly — dismiss whatever concerns Damian's having. )

If it makes you feel any better, I don't use it very often to begin with. But I have it just in case.

[brat]

It's always just in case until "emergency scenarios" continuously pop up.

( he doesn't sound very enthused by it either. damian's been on venom, he knows how it feels. )

How much do you have remaining?

[batsymbol]

Why?

( Plain and simple. Eyes focused ahead. )

[brat]

I want to know.

( does he need another reason than that? damian thinks not. )

[batsymbol]

Six shots.

( As he answers, he pulls them into a more secluded spot of the woods where he'd scouted earlier and decided to get a tent for them. )

[brat]

Do you intend to synthesize more?

( it doesn't matter what he intends to do when it gets down to it, damian knows that well enough. but asking doesn't hurt regardless. )

[batsymbol]

If it comes down to it. But I told you I don't use them often. That's the first time I'd used one being here.

( In the year he's spent in Etraya.

The car is put in park then, engine rumbling, and he sits there. Quiet. )

[brat]

It's also the first time I went down in front of you.

( he's been - careful, as much as he can be, but who knows if similar situations will crop up going forward. so damian offers - )

Do not compromise yourself for me. Please. If I fall, I will get back up. We don't need both of us suffering from long-term damage when we can keep it to one.

[batsymbol]

Until you can't.

( You're only human, Damian. So is he.

Huff on his lips, he pops the driver's side door open and gets himself out — grabbing at his bag before he's shutting the door behind him and hoisting the bag over his shoulder, waiting for Damian to exit the car with Titus. )

[brat]

( damian shoves at titus' rear after bruce removes himself from the vehicle, to get the dog to exit first before he climbs out after. and once he's on his feet, he - looks to bruce for a moment, lips pursed. )

I was trained by Batman. If need be, I know how to play dead. I promise I will respect my limitations, as long as you do the same.

[batsymbol]

You don't need to worry about me.

( With Damian out of the car now, he makes his way for the spot he'd picked out earlier for them, bag slung over his shoulder. )

I'm not careless with everything I do.

( Well.. )

[brat]

( titus digs his nose into the ground immediately after setting food on the ground, and damian - keeps his eyes on bruce. pulls his pack back over his shoulder. )

I do need to worry about you, because you aren't careless with everything. If you were, it would be significantly easier to justify preventing you from being reckless.

( and easier to pull in everyone else to help keep tabs on him. instead, he just follows a few steps behind bruce, with titus following after. )

[batsymbol]

( He rolls his eyes even though his back is facing Damian. After that, he looks back over his shoulder to his son, holding the strap of his bag as he does. )

I made a choice. One that allowed me the upper hand in the situation. Or would you rather I have let you or Selina be killed?

( It's his first namedrop of Selina in the year he's been here, but. Since his going back to his Gotham recently, things have happened — things that are still fresh on his mind. )

[brat]

»Tt«.

( it's not a dismissal, or even ignoring bruce's question. it's annoyance at it even being posed. )

I would have been fine. Selina Kyle would have been. Do you know how difficult it is to keep that woman down?

[batsymbol]

( He glances back again, only because Damian acknowledges he know Selina— a Selina back in his own Gotham and he... just keeps that note to himself as he looks back ahead — as he leads them to the camping area he had set up earlier for them. Yes, if Damian hadn't agreed to come, he would have taken it down, but. He's here and so it hasn't gone to waste. At least the tent is up and secure. )

I have an idea.

( It's more mumbled than anything else and he drops his bag down from his shoulder as he makes it there to the tent, unzipping it for Damian to take a look inside. As expected for a tent to be and with room inside for the... three of them, a lantern and some bedding already there. )

[brat]

( he'd planned this.

not only planned it, but his father had set up their camp spot for them in advance. he'd expected damian to say yes, and had intended to get him out here. it's thoughtful, even if damian doesn't know how to express that well.

it's titus who waltzes inside the tent to make himself comfortable, while damian stays outside but looks into it. for a moment, anyway.

before he turns his attention back to bruce. )

I can't afford to lose you.