me and my family we're wonderful folks

[callipygous]

[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.]

Comments

[callipygous]

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

What happened?

[whaticallmyself]

It was a long time ago.

[callipygous]

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

[whaticallmyself]

[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.]

[callipygous]

[...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?]

[whaticallmyself]

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

[callipygous]

Yeah. Is he fine too?

[whaticallmyself]

...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.]

[callipygous]

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

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

[whaticallmyself]

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

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

[callipygous]

[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.

[whaticallmyself]

[Aaaaaand now some staring.]

What?

[callipygous]

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

[whaticallmyself]

Graduation.

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

Tim didn't die.

[callipygous]

[Dick shakes his head. Tim's lost a lot, and Dick knows Tim hasn't always handled it well, but Tim's still alive.] He's going by Red Robin now.

[whaticallmyself]

He's retired here. [Bruce's tone is flat; he doesn't want to discuss this.]

[callipygous]

[Bruce never wants to talk about it.] So are you, I take it. [And this world's Dick?]

[whaticallmyself]

[He glances toward the monitors, where he's been keeping an eye on Terry's progress.] More or less.

[callipygous]

[He frowns as he follows Bruce's gaze.] Robot? Or someone new?

[whaticallmyself]

[Paaaaaaaaause. The robot thing isn't exactly a thing yet. Anymore. He's not really sure about the status of that project, actually.]

Someone new.

[callipygous]

[Someone who isn't Dick, obviously. He tries not to feel a little hurt, especially since Bruce seemed to assume Dick would never take the cowl in this world. Then again, Dick's not sure how his other self's resolve would hold if Bruce actually asked.] And you're doing the Oracle thing?

[whaticallmyself]

[Blank look.]

What?

[callipygous]

[...alternate dimensions. Right.] Uh. Oracle. It's Babs' thing back home.

[whaticallmyself]

Hn. She's police commissioner now.

[callipygous]

She is? [He grins in that goofy, half-besotted way that's reserved for talking about Barbara. They might not be together these days, but, well, she's Barbara.] Bet she's great at that.