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[ If he'd stayed, he would've killed them. Killed her. Killed her guards and dealt with whatever that kind of ego death means in the real world in stride.
He can't take the praise. Or the good will. Because his mind is occupied - not knowing who the leak was, not knowing if it could be one of their own - because it very well could be. People will do stupid things to get ahead. ]
Maybe.
[ He doesn't know. And it bothers him. ]
The fact that we don't know is precisely why we need to become self-sufficient. I'm not worried about Maeda, I'm worried about what kind of influence she might be exerting on the people of this world and what they'll do to us to get her favor.
He can't take the praise. Or the good will. Because his mind is occupied - not knowing who the leak was, not knowing if it could be one of their own - because it very well could be. People will do stupid things to get ahead. ]
Maybe.
[ He doesn't know. And it bothers him. ]
The fact that we don't know is precisely why we need to become self-sufficient. I'm not worried about Maeda, I'm worried about what kind of influence she might be exerting on the people of this world and what they'll do to us to get her favor.
[ a grim turn of his mouth, conceding on that point. ]
We're well on our way. It won't fix all our problems, but it'll buy us some time.
[ it's not total separation and they'll have far from fallen off the grid, but it's something. no more third parties wandering through their midst. no more strangers who aren't in the same boat. ]
And I'm going to follow up with Maeda. [ they made a solid start. he doesn't intend on leaving it there. ] I know you will too. But you need to be careful. If the things that have changed since we've been back are anything to go by, she's going to be after you more than she was before.
[ maybe him too, by extension. but she only knows his face if she remembers anything about him at all. that's something to work with. ]
We're well on our way. It won't fix all our problems, but it'll buy us some time.
[ it's not total separation and they'll have far from fallen off the grid, but it's something. no more third parties wandering through their midst. no more strangers who aren't in the same boat. ]
And I'm going to follow up with Maeda. [ they made a solid start. he doesn't intend on leaving it there. ] I know you will too. But you need to be careful. If the things that have changed since we've been back are anything to go by, she's going to be after you more than she was before.
[ maybe him too, by extension. but she only knows his face if she remembers anything about him at all. that's something to work with. ]
Don't.
[ Damian's voice comes out hard and short, jaw setting. He can't tell him to keep his hands off - that's just not possible, so after a second he relents. ]
Before you do anything, you tell me. [ ... ] The more upset she is, them more likely she is to go after my brothers. I don't care if she comes after me, there's not a lot she can do to me that I can't walk off - but them?
[ They're already so damn angry at him. At each other. He doesn't know how to even begin fitting the pieces of their trust back together, and this whole thing going beyond him? Beyond them? Running the risk of other people pissing her off or getting too close, and her deciding to take it out on them? ]
And all four of us need to co-ordinate or things are going to go very south very fast. We can't afford to be blindsided.
[ Damian's voice comes out hard and short, jaw setting. He can't tell him to keep his hands off - that's just not possible, so after a second he relents. ]
Before you do anything, you tell me. [ ... ] The more upset she is, them more likely she is to go after my brothers. I don't care if she comes after me, there's not a lot she can do to me that I can't walk off - but them?
[ They're already so damn angry at him. At each other. He doesn't know how to even begin fitting the pieces of their trust back together, and this whole thing going beyond him? Beyond them? Running the risk of other people pissing her off or getting too close, and her deciding to take it out on them? ]
And all four of us need to co-ordinate or things are going to go very south very fast. We can't afford to be blindsided.
[ Well.
The look of him gives him pause. He shouldn't be hauling Keith outside in the cold if he's sick, but at the same time he doesn't want to have this conversation where people can overhear. They don't have to go far.
So he simply nods and walks for a while, feeling the bite of the cold before he opens his mouth. ]
"Hafid al Ghul" isn't a name, it's a title. It means Grandson of the Demon. Damian is the name my mother gave to me. 'Wayne' is my father's surname.
The look of him gives him pause. He shouldn't be hauling Keith outside in the cold if he's sick, but at the same time he doesn't want to have this conversation where people can overhear. They don't have to go far.
So he simply nods and walks for a while, feeling the bite of the cold before he opens his mouth. ]
"Hafid al Ghul" isn't a name, it's a title. It means Grandson of the Demon. Damian is the name my mother gave to me. 'Wayne' is my father's surname.
[ it's a fair point that he'll concede, though there are levels to it that need discussing: how the reverse needs to be true. how if he'll hold off on their account, they can't go off and act without him either.
first, though, a moment of quiet as he considers something else. ]
In what way are you any less vulnerable than your brothers?
first, though, a moment of quiet as he considers something else. ]
In what way are you any less vulnerable than your brothers?
[ ah.
Damian considers him for a moment. Weighs what to say carefully. ]
They're formidable. But I was raised by my mother. I was holding a weapon before I could hold my head up, fighting as soon as I could stand, and she didn't believe in training wheels
Damian considers him for a moment. Weighs what to say carefully. ]
They're formidable. But I was raised by my mother. I was holding a weapon before I could hold my head up, fighting as soon as I could stand, and she didn't believe in training wheels
[ it's an answer. it isn't a satisfying one. ]
I don't doubt your skill. But this isn't our universe, let alone our city, and you don't have the resources I'm sure you had once. The person you're going up against can use anything and anyone she needs. She has the money and the standing for it. She may not come at you with physical harm.
You have to consider yourself just as much as you'd consider them. If I can't trust you to do that, I can't trust you to keep me fully informed and there's no point in us trying to work together.
I don't doubt your skill. But this isn't our universe, let alone our city, and you don't have the resources I'm sure you had once. The person you're going up against can use anything and anyone she needs. She has the money and the standing for it. She may not come at you with physical harm.
You have to consider yourself just as much as you'd consider them. If I can't trust you to do that, I can't trust you to keep me fully informed and there's no point in us trying to work together.
O...kay. [Keith says this slowly, like he's piecing it together. Should he be out here? No. But sitting still while being sick is like asking Keith to sit still any other time: he would've been out here for some other equally irrational reason.
And guess what? Getting sick is a great motivator for him learning how to make his power activate manually.
Too bad it's a late one.]
Do you want to go by that title?
And guess what? Getting sick is a great motivator for him learning how to make his power activate manually.
Too bad it's a late one.]
Do you want to go by that title?
To be clear, I don't expect to be actively included in whatever it is you three choose to do. I know our approaches differ and I highly doubt your brother is going to like the idea of involving me in your personal business.
[ this one time in stopping loki from murdering ojiro camp, I spoke at his brain and we haven't really had a reason to talk since
which brother? he's not saying the name "Matches" out loud that's an affront to his own self respect ]
But if an opportunity arises for me to get into her head, it's in everyone's best interest to facilitate a way for me to take it.
Besides that, I'm the only one of you she doesn't know. If you need that, and so long as I can fortify against it jeopardizing the security of anyone else if I'm compromised, I'll do what I can.
[ this one time in stopping loki from murdering ojiro camp, I spoke at his brain and we haven't really had a reason to talk since
which brother? he's not saying the name "Matches" out loud that's an affront to his own self respect ]
But if an opportunity arises for me to get into her head, it's in everyone's best interest to facilitate a way for me to take it.
Besides that, I'm the only one of you she doesn't know. If you need that, and so long as I can fortify against it jeopardizing the security of anyone else if I'm compromised, I'll do what I can.
[ he's going to go ahead and assume jason, because jason is the one who likes to make enemies. dick makes friends who would gladly die for him and can't stay out of his business. ]
That's my intent. I'll keep you informed of anything you may need to know.
[ He folds his arms. Hesitating a moment before he says anything else.]
... I hope it goes without saying that what you saw while in my dream - or in my head - stays between us.
[ being a criminal himself and all. ]
That's my intent. I'll keep you informed of anything you may need to know.
[ He folds his arms. Hesitating a moment before he says anything else.]
... I hope it goes without saying that what you saw while in my dream - or in my head - stays between us.
[ being a criminal himself and all. ]
[ a small upward tick to his mouth. it's not funny he should say, there's just something about the delivery. perhaps it's that it's not a threat. ]
It does.
[ hafid it is, then. but there's also a peace of mind to lay down - ]
And for the record, I wasn't in your head any more than I needed to be to hear and be heard.
It does.
[ hafid it is, then. but there's also a peace of mind to lay down - ]
And for the record, I wasn't in your head any more than I needed to be to hear and be heard.
Edited 2019-05-04 08:23 (UTC)
[ a huff in place of a smile - that was nothing - but it's absolutely pleased. before the dreams, there was nobody who knew what it is that he's missing. now, at least, a few. ]
I appreciated the opportunity to stretch my legs.
[ it's been a very long time. there's every chance he shouldn't have been having as much fun as he had for that brief time in Damian's nightmare of a world, but what can you do? ]
Even if that was the most stupid power set I've ever seen.
I appreciated the opportunity to stretch my legs.
[ it's been a very long time. there's every chance he shouldn't have been having as much fun as he had for that brief time in Damian's nightmare of a world, but what can you do? ]
Even if that was the most stupid power set I've ever seen.
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