John Paul lit down on an overhang beside the one who Dick had told him
about. John Paul, not Azrael. For one he was in charge in the middle of the
night life. Maybe it was due to the momentary lack of sirens or screams.
"Dick told me that you were a good listener."
"..."
"Not one for much conversation, though?"
"..."
"Guess that's pretty obvious when you're talking to stone. Or ought to be. Seems like there's so many Robots and shapeshifters and magic around, that things are rarely as they seem."
"..."
"Well, you've been around here longer than the Bat and have yet to tell anyone's secrets, so I suppose you're the safest ear around."
"...?"
"Dick was right. You are a good listener. I mean, everyone I know is always so busy trying to keeps their homes in one piece, and after the Azbat deal..."
"..."
"I think they're starting to forgive me, or at least I hope they
are."
"..."
"Anyways, I'm rambling. It's so weird being Azrael sometimes. It feels like there's me and him, fighting for control of my head. I mean, is what I was told about the angel true, or do I have a
multiple personality disorder, or is it only the programming?"
"..."
"It's all so confusing, sometimes. Sometimes I think the only way I can deal is to distract myself so that I don't have to think about it all. So I go out as Azrael. But does that just compound the problem? Yet I want to help."
"..."
Maybe I should ask Barbara for advice. I think I might have tried to date her in another life. But I have Tish, and she had Dick, even if she denies it. It's funny. She's the only one who hasn't been on the rooftops with me, but she's like the sister I never had."
John Paul leaned against his listener, taking quiet comfort from him. Then he shifted slightly, taking a closer look, and wondered for the first time if his listener was really just a statue.
Before he could really consider the question, though, sirens sounded in the distance and Azrael took over.
"Dick told me that you were a good listener."
"..."
"Not one for much conversation, though?"
"..."
"Guess that's pretty obvious when you're talking to stone. Or ought to be. Seems like there's so many Robots and shapeshifters and magic around, that things are rarely as they seem."
"..."
"Well, you've been around here longer than the Bat and have yet to tell anyone's secrets, so I suppose you're the safest ear around."
"...?"
"Dick was right. You are a good listener. I mean, everyone I know is always so busy trying to keeps their homes in one piece, and after the Azbat deal..."
"..."
"I think they're starting to forgive me, or at least I hope they
are."
"..."
"Anyways, I'm rambling. It's so weird being Azrael sometimes. It feels like there's me and him, fighting for control of my head. I mean, is what I was told about the angel true, or do I have a
multiple personality disorder, or is it only the programming?"
"..."
"It's all so confusing, sometimes. Sometimes I think the only way I can deal is to distract myself so that I don't have to think about it all. So I go out as Azrael. But does that just compound the problem? Yet I want to help."
"..."
Maybe I should ask Barbara for advice. I think I might have tried to date her in another life. But I have Tish, and she had Dick, even if she denies it. It's funny. She's the only one who hasn't been on the rooftops with me, but she's like the sister I never had."
John Paul leaned against his listener, taking quiet comfort from him. Then he shifted slightly, taking a closer look, and wondered for the first time if his listener was really just a statue.
Before he could really consider the question, though, sirens sounded in the distance and Azrael took over.