"And then, Bruce proceeded to be just terrible for like…years."
"Aww, Tim, he wasn't that bad," Batman said. Red Robin gave him a wry look.
"I mean, he wasn't the greatest. He was moody and brooding and generally a gigantic pain in the ass. Granted, that was interspaced with moments of him being nice but it was a lot of me dealing with all his traumatic crap over you Jason. I don't know that I would have taken the job if I'd known that was gonna happen."
"But he loved you," Batman insisted, "and that was good." Red Robin paused, his eyes unfocused and his mind traveling far away.
"Yea," he said in a soft, almost dreamy voice, "he did love me…eventually and that…that was good." His memories found a storm then, a storm and warm arms and a soft voice and gentle hands and Red Robin wished for a single, overpowering moment to drown in those memories, but he shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Anyway, then my dad found out who I was and he made me stop for a while and then he got killed and Bruce adopted me and then Bruce died and now…here we are." He did a brief jazz hands for emphasis and the Red Hood gazed at him and Batman stoically for a few moments.
"That was a really long and…kinda boring story, especially your parts Tim. If you were to retell that to someone, my main piece of feedback would be to cut all the technical bits. All that stuff about how you used the computer and shit…super dull."
"Thanks, but I don't take feedback from assholes who wear masks under their hoods."
"Hey Tim," Batman murmured, "you want to maybe…ease up on the bad language?" Red Robin glared at him and then turned back to Red Hood.
"So…am I walking off this roof or what?" The Red Hood considered the both of them and then shrugged.
"I mean…if you want to, go for it but I guess…maybe your sad and sorry tale sucked a bit of the fun out of it for me."
"Eee," Batman yipped, grabbing Red Robin's arm, "we did it Tim, we thawed his frozen heart Tim, just like the Winter Warlock from Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Tim!"
"I swear to God Dick, if you say my name or mention that fucking movie again, I will take Red Hood's gun and shoot you dead." The Red Hood snorted.
"I mean, honestly, watching you have to deal with him is better than watching you die anyway."
"Tell me about it," Red Robin grumbled, standing up. The three of them faced one another, the wind blowing Batman's cape behind him in the breeze and ruffling the hair of the other two.
"So…" Red Robin said slowly, "What happens now?"
"Now…now I clear out of Gotham for a while," the Red Hood replied, "I have a tropical island calling my name. Try not to die while I'm gone, I'd hate to miss that." He took a final long drag from his cigarette and tossed it to the ground, putting it out under his boot.
"You really shouldn't smoke Jason," Batman chided, "those things'll kill you one day."
"I've already been dead once," the Red Hood laughed, giving him a mischievous grin, "somehow, facing it the second time isn't nearly as scary. See you around bat boys."
"Will…will we see you again soon?" Batman called hopefully. Red Robin felt a flare of irritation. He had no desire to see the Red Hood again but of course, Batman was sentimental and ever full of hope. It was something Red Robin had once liked about him and, perhaps in a small way, still did.
"Maybe," Red Hood tossed over his shoulder, shooting a cable out into empty space. It attached itself to a nearby building and he gave it a tug to secure it. "Can't promise I won't try to kill you though."
"You aren't trying to kill us now," Batman said, his voice so full of longing and desperate optimism, it made even the Red Hood pause for a moment.
"Well…one foot in front of the other Dickie bird." With that, he leapt off into the skyline of Gotham, grasping tightly to his line. Batman and Red Robin watched him for a long time, each lost in their own private thoughts, until they couldn't see him anymore.
"Glad we didn't bring Damian tonight," Red Robin said, finally breaking the silence as he positioned his shoulder under Batman so he could act like a crutch for the other man. Together, they started on their way back to the Batmobile. Batman frowned at Red Robin.
"We would have if you hadn't used knockout gas on him!"
"Well," Red Robin smirked, "like I said, good thing I did."
"You need to learn to get along with him," Batman grumbled.
"My predecessor doesn't get along with me," Red Robin replied.
"Well, after tonight, maybe he will…" Red Robin did not think so but Batman had not sounded this happy in a long time, maybe not since Bruce had died. Telling his story had been…harder than he had imagined, remembering Bruce, remembering those early days. Those had been good days and he had to remind himself that it was good to remember them. Besides, Bruce was not really gone, of that, he was convinced. He would be back soon and then they could reminisce together. Until then, he would do his best to support the current Batman however he could, even when he really wanted to smack him, like right now, when he was singing softly under his breath as they limped slowly back to the car. "Put one foot in front of the other and soon you'll be walking out the door."
www. youtube watch ? v = OORsz2d1H7s
Remove the spaces for a nostalgic surprise!