callipygous | me and my family we're wonderful folks

[Great, Dick hates when random dimensional travel happens. But at least he managed to shove Damian out of the way of the ray gun. Which is good because he still has no idea when he is and Gotham won't be unprotected, but bad because Damian in charge of Gotham? Not a good thing. Hopefully Tim will come and visit home, or Steph will take charge, or something.

Meanwhile, Dick has to figure out how to get home.

The streets are configured like Gotham, though the technology levels are a lot higher than what Dick's used to. But if there's Gotham, there's likely a Wayne Manor, and under it, probably a Batcave. It's worth checking out anyway.

The secret entrance is where it usually is, so he bypasses Wayne Manor entirely, but once he gets inside....

He has to stop and look around. Everything's so different. He draws to a stop in front of the display cases. He's used to just the one, for Jason. This is... more.

He pulls off the cowl as he looks, the cape weighing heavy on his shoulders, deep in thought.]

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And who's that? [Bruce's tone is a little absent--he'll hear Dick's answer, but he doesn't really think it matters that much. Even the most stubborn can eventually be put off by repeated refusals. It had worked with his 'family.']

You. [Or the Bruce from Dick's universe, but he doesn't feel like he needs to explain that.]

[Flat stare.] That's impossible. I don't have any children. [Well. There were Terry and Matt, but that was... extremely complicated, and didn't really count.]

Talia Al Ghul said otherwise. And the DNA tests proved it.

...Of course it would be Talia. [He supposes Ra's finally got what he'd wanted in that other universe--though not quite, apparently, if the boy is Robin.]

[...Dick gives him a look that says he suspects that's TMI, but he's sure not gonna ask since he pretty much knew or guessed.]

Unfortunately, the League of Assassins trained him well. He knows far more about killing than any kid should.

[Yeah, the less you think about that the better, Dick. Bruce is frowning at his comments about Damian, though.]

I'll assume that Talia had him for that period, then? [Because no kid of his would be trained by the League of Assassins if he had anything to say about it.]

Of course. We didn't even know he existed until he showed up in Gotham and tried to replace Tim as Robin.

...Right. Of course.

[And when he speaks again, his voice is the kind of forced casual that indicates he's actually trying to tread cautiously here.]

How is Tim?

Tim? Fine. [Not entirely happy with Dick for letting Damian take over the Robin mantle, but physically he's all right.

And then an awful thought strikes him. He's not the world's greatest detective, but he's not stupid, and he knows Bruce's pointedly unemotional tone when he hears it.]

Is he... not here?

[FROWN. HE IS FROWNING, DICK. And when he answers, his tone os very clipped.]

He's fine.

[...THAT DOESN'T SOUND FINE.]

What happened?

It was a long time ago.

That doesn't answer my question, Bruce. [Dick steps towards him.] He's my brother. I need to know.

[SCOWLING FOREVER. Because he didn't even tell Terry this stuff--he made him go talk to Barbara about it. Because it's horrible.]

The Joker.

[...Nope. He doesn't really want to explain more than that. That's enough right there, yes? Yes.]

[...yeah, he really doesn't need to add more. Dick frowns, glancing away.] Right. Like Jason. [Did Tim come back? Or was it not quite as like Jason as he thought?]

[Oh, Dick, it's really not that simple. Bruce blinks in confusion.] Jason?

Yeah. Is he fine too?

...I assume so. I haven't spoken to Jason Blood in years.

[The only Jason he can think of that Dick might be referring to.]

[...this is not the same page, Bruce. Dick gives him a confused look.]

Jason Todd. The second Robin? [A beat.] In my world, anyway.

[Have a 'what are you smoking, Grayson' look.]

Tim was the second Robin here. [Beat.] The only one, other than you.

[Only two. He'd almost wonder if that was better, except the thought of the Joker hurting Tim... no.]

...where I'm from, we had five. Me, Jason, Tim, Stephanie, and now Damian.

[Aaaaaand now some staring.]

What?

...none of them are dead. [Anymore.] Mostly it was a graduation thing.

Graduation.

[Right. That makes sense. Like Dick had.]

Tim didn't die.

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