Sorry for the delay. I'm in a show, and we're going to be entering tech week in a few weeks, so the updates might slow down a bit. Just a heads up.
"So, Gerome." Robin said to the masked man. "I see you aren't as...connected to Minerva as your mother is."
"No." Gerome replied.
"I mean, when I called her in here, she brought the dragon in with her." Robin continued.
"I see." Gerome said curtly.
"The hole's still there, if you wanted to bring her into the office." Robin said, pointing to the giant hole in the wall of his office.
"You put drapes over it." Gerome commented.
"Yeah." Robin said. "Apparently, a giant, gaping hole can really mess up your feng shui."
"Did you call me here for a reason?" Gerome asked.
"I think I'm going to have to let you go." Robin said. "But, the thing is, I don't want you to disappear on us."
"What do you mean?" Gerome asked.
"Well, you kinda have a stick up your ass about the whole 'don't mess with the past' thing." Robin explained. "You guys did a really stand up job with that one, by the way. What were you really expecting? The only way you could not mess with the future would be to watch all of your loved ones die at the hands of a giant dragon god me thing. As you watched all of this, would you just smile to yourself and say 'job well done?'"
"At least I didn't marry the being that we were sent to kill." Gerome commented.
Robin clenched his fist, but continued to smirk at the wyvern rider.
"Why are you still wearing that mask, anyway?" Robin asked. "Is it some kind of fetish of Cynthia's? It seems like it. I remember before you guys started dating. You seemed to be either so oblivious or so in the friend zone. Either way, it was hilarious! You know, you should really take up after her. You should go into battle, shouting inane things about justice. Actually, you don't seem like the kind of guy to shout about justice. Maybe you could just shout about how awesome you are. Warn your enemies that you will strike them as suddenly as the night drapes across the land!...Or, you know, just paraphrase that."
"You want me to tell them that I am the night?" Gerome asked.
"Ha!" Robin laughed out loud. "Got you to say it! Which is good, because I was about one comment away from tearing that mask off of your face and shoving it so far up your ass you'd have to call it that Bat Cave."
Gerome's eyes widened in surprise at the tactician. "I don't see how that could upset you. You and Lucina joke about Grima all the time."
"It's still kinda a sensitive subject." Robin responded. "It's one of those things only we can talk about. Although I will give you points for at least trying to make a joke. Took a lot of guts to step out of your comfort zone. Just, you know, watch it."
"Understood." Gerome said. "I shouldn't make the comment about Morgan and Yarne, should I?"
"You should not." Robin replied. He pause for a second. "And I think I might stop it with the Batman analogy. If you're Batman, I wish I could say that would make Inigo Robin, but I'm already Robin…He would pull off the shorts better…" He mumbled to himself.
"You lost me." Gerome commented.
"Right." Robin said. "As I was saying, you're fired, because I think you're too much of a lone wolf to help the Shepherds."
"...No offence, Robin, but that sounds…" Gerome struggled for the word.
"Like bullshit?" Robin finished for him. "Yeah, it kinda is. Although I don't really think it would matter to you, since you seem like the kinda guy who would already be planning on quitting the team."
Gerome gasped again. "H-How did you-?"
"Master. Tactician." Robin said, tapping his head, before continuing. "Anyway, I get that and give you my blessing. Now, since I'm a tad curious about one of the more dysfunctional couples of our group, how are your folks?"
"...They are not my real parents." Gerome said.
"DARKNESS!" Robin shouted. "NO PARENTS!" He looked at Gerome. "...Sorry. Had to. It's a great movie. You were saying?"
"...They appear to be in counseling." Gerome said. "I don't want to know the full details about what put a strain on their marriage, but I know it has something to do with candy and Minerva. Although it might be something darker than that, since mot-Cherche asked me if she could borrow the future Minerva. Nothing was wrong with the present version, but she said she wanted to experiment with something."
"...Ew." Robin said. "I was gonna harp on you for not calling her mother, but that mental image...Naga, save me!"
"Should I take my leave?" Gerome asked, standing up. "I have business to attend to."
"Sure. I've had my fun." Robin replied. "Now go. Gotham need you."
Gerome looked like he was about to respond, then sighed. "...Nevermind." he said,, leaving the office.
"...I feel like I got what I needed." Robin said. "He seems less likely to sick the wyvern on me, so that's a plus."
I made as many Batman jokes as I could think of. Hope it was good.
Internet, how has nobody drawn a picture of Gerome and Inigo as Batman and Robin? It's almost as disappointing as the lack of a picture of Smaug and Bilbo as Sherlock and Watson.
Up next: Morgan! And a bit of a change of scenery to match.