peektuttut | Maybe I'm the one, maybe I'm the one [Locked to Bruce]

Joker's still here, he's watching the city go up in flames from somewhere downtown. I'm working on triangulating-- What are you wearing?

New suit. You're sure? This is strange. I don't like the coincidence. Nygma hasn't been in contact with him since arriving, right?

Nygma's been in on-and-off contact with him, from what I understand he goes to visit Harvey. I've been trying to get the location of Joker's base out of him, but he's more afraid of the Joker than he is of me.

And that's not a new suit, that's someone else's suit. I thought you were Robin.

Joker's letter - it couldn't have been encouraged by Nygma, could it? Sounds off, but I need to make sure.

It's someone else's old suit, actually. Gotham needs a Batman.

Definitely not, it's not the first time that the Joker's called the people of Gotham to do his work for him. This is the first time it's worked so well, though. It must be the "death" of Harvey Dent shaking them.

But, you can't be that for Gotham, Tim. Being Batman means giving up Tim Drake, it means offering up all of the people he loves to be attacked. Are you willing to sacrifice them and yourself to this identity? Because I can tell you right now that no Bruce Wayne in my world or any other would want that for a kid.

I'll take your word on that. But then this coincidence is all the stranger.

Look, Bruce, I it, but you don't actually know what I can and cannot be. You're under the assumption that I have anything left to lose; besides, it has to be one of us, and Dick's refusing to do it. I won't let an outsider subvert the mantle.

In any case, it's just until he gets back.

What's the coincidence?

I'm not under the mistaken impression of anything - I know you still have something to lose. You have yourself, but Batman will consume that, and you'll never be able to give it up, even if Bruce Wayne comes back from the dead. And you have Zoanne - even if you broke up, it could cost her life for you to be this. If you can't admit to the sacrifices you're making, then it only proves my point that you shouldn't be doing this. Dick knows the costs, that's why he won't.

Both Gothams are burning.

You don't even know Dick. There's only so much I'm willing to excuse for you, Bruce. If you think that being Robin for the last few years was anything less than what you think being Batman is like, then you're wrong. He's coming back. Zo will be fine. Batman is a symbol, and the city's imploding without it; when it realizes there's still something to fear, it will calm down again. This is the best thing I could be doing for her.

Then, you take care of yours and stop worrying about mine.

I don't need to know Dick to know why he wouldn't take the damned job. Any sane man wouldn't, you don't need to give up your life like Bruce Wayne gave up his. You're being an idiot if you think Zoanne will be fine - if the Riddler knows who you are as Robin, who else do you think knows? When Batman starts showing up without Robin, it won't take a master detective to figure out who took the mantle.

Anyone you knew as Tim Drake will be in danger of being used as leverage to get to you, you wouldn't understand because you haven't seen it happen like I have, like Bruce had. I may not be your Bruce, but I'm going down the same path that he did and I know where it leads. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make, but you're not even willing to acknowledge. What you're doing so flippantly is insulting his memory.

You're missing my point entirely. They're both burning. At the same time.

What else wouldn't I understand? Now I want to know. While you're at it, how long have you been wearing the cowl and beating up muggers? How much have you seen and lost? Really. I'm curious.

That you think I do anything flippantly is insulting. Stop talking about him like he's dead.

I'm not missing the point, but Nygma hasn't been back to your world, and you don't get the same copy of the Gotham Times. It's been going on here for 3 days, now, so any coincidence is just overlap of shit that seems pretty common where you're from - especially if things are as bad as you claim without Batman around.

You haven't watched your best friend hold a man's family hostage - you haven't lost the love of your life, your best friend, to a maniac and know that it's because of your choices that you had to do it. When the Joker blows Zoanne and Dick half to hell, then we'll talk. Until then, you're just a kid and you don't know what you're trying to get into.

Bruce Wayne shouldn't just turn around and leave everything in a couple of kids' hands. If he's not wearing the cowl, he's dead, Tim. You can't keep denying the fact.

Clearly, you aren't paranoid enough. It's too coincidental. I'm not saying it has to be a person at fault. I've seen enough shit with the multiverse to wonder if there's a parallel reaction between them.

I haven't? You don't know a damn thing about me, so don't you dare tell me who I've lost! I haven't been a 'kid' since I was thirteen; I know what I'm getting into better than you do at this point.

If reactions were parallel, I would be dead. Or "gone" as you'd prefer to think of it.

Bullshit you do. Until Bruce Wayne hands you that cowl, don't put it on again, or I'll come make sure you don't.

Enough.

One: Do not set foot in this Gotham. Two: I've been doing this half a decade. How long have you been wearing that cowl?

How long have you been training to wear that cowl? Because, I've been working on it for 10 years and I barely think I'm ready to take on this city. I'm not going to tell you again, Tim.

And I am not going to tell you again that it is not your place to tell me that. I'm doing what I have to; I'd like to think that a Bruce who knows what I'm about would be proud. Don't ruin that.

He wouldn't. He'd think you're being a child just like I do, because you're not accepting that there are sacrifices that come with it - you think it's just a change of a suit to become that symbol, but it's a lifetime commitment that consumes you. And you're making light of Bruce Wayne's bigger achievement by reducing it to that simplistic of a transition.

You really don't know a damn thing, do you?

My mom. My dad. My step-mom. My 'uncle.' My two best friends. Two girlfriends. Countless friends. Every single one of them has died in the past few years. And now Bruce is gone. I didn't think Bruce would ever be the sort to assume that his tragedy outweighs all others.

I know what it's like to fill these shoes. I've done it before, and I wasn't ready. I don't know if I'm ready now, and it doesn't matter. There needs to be a Batman.

If suffering was enough to warrant becoming the Batman, then anyone in Gotham could do it. Don't tote your losses like some kind of validation, like it gives you the right to become this. You still have to make sacrifices like Bruce did and like I did.

There needs to be someone like Batman, you can do that as Robin until you're ready to take the step. You don't need someone else's symbol to become one yourself.

Yeah. Sure. That's what I do, running around screaming my losses. You don't quite grasp what sacrifice really is, yet, do you?

I'm going to say this for the last time. Gotham needs Batman more than ever, right now. There is someone hear in a cowl, using guns, and if it's who I think it is, I am not letting him continue another instant.

I don't need your validation, Wayne. I know what I'm doing better than you seem to grasp.

You want to play superhero? Go ahead. But, when you lose everything, I'm not going to be here, so just pray that your Bruce is back by then. Clearly, he's the only one whose opinion you think is worth a damn, anyway.

I've already lost everything.

You still have yourself. We'll see how long it lasts against Batman.

I still have myself in the same sense you have yourself, Bruce. For a detective, you assume a whole hell of a lot.

I'm not assuming, I'm observing. You may not give me much credit, Tim, but I've seen a lot of you since you came here and you're still there, you became a different person when you were Robin. For me, there hasn't been a real Bruce Wayne since Rachel died.

I'm sorry you lost your one true love. I'm sorry you think of Batman as an enemy of Bruce Wayne. But I'm pretty damn furious that you think I haven't been affected. Alfred taught me to act damn well. My life has been about capes and masks for years, and you telling me I suddenly don't know what I'm talking about isn't going to change that.

I'm not saying you don't know what you're talking about, and I think you're ready to pull it off in terms of whether you have the skills, but I don't think you recognize the sacrifices you're going to have to make. I realize that you've made plenty already, I'm not a fool, I don't think that coming near this job could ever be that simple, but it doesn't get easier, it gets worse. I'm saying this because I think you're a damn good kid and you shouldn't have to give up your life just because I-- just because Bruce Wayne failed.

I-

Bruce didn't fail.

He's not there when the city needs him. That's a failure, Tim. If-->When he comes back, I'm sure he'll acknowledge as much.

He saved the world. Or the universe, I guess. Darkseid had practically won. That's not...a failure.

But right now. Not being there now, is Gotham in danger because he isn't there for it? That is.

Maybe.

He would want one of us to take the mantle. I know he would.

I honestly don't think he could ask that of you. It's too great a sacrifice. But, if you think you're ready, I'm not going to stop you. Just realize what the cost is, please, Tim.

It's a sacrifice we've already made, and I'll thank you to stop acting as if I don't already know the cost. I never wanted to be Batman. Things change.

Stop being contrary for one second, goddammit, and just accept that I'm concerned about you accepting these consequences because you keep neglecting to admit that there will be sacrifices. You haven't once said as much.

I'm not being contrary, Bruce, I'm more than aware of the sacrifices. It's an implication I knew when I sought the damn job out, and it's not something I feel the need to bring up anymore. But if it will make you feel better, there will be sacrifices. I know this. And I can't - just - nevermind.

You can't just what, Tim? I know you feel this is what you have to do, but do you really think you can't do for the city as Robin what Bruce did as Batman?

You can't be this naive. That wasn't what I meant at all. Robin is one thing; I made robin a separate entity, a darker presence, and for a while it worked. But Robin isn't Batman, and the city is screaming for a Batman. And I don't mean that poetically; the signs people are rioting with? 'I Am Batman.' There are people dressing up and taking matters into their own hands and they won't stop until a modicum of order is returned to my city. I can handle this. What I can't handle right now is your concern.

Then why are you letting me stop you? ...Go save your city, Tim. But try and save yourself in the process.

You aren't stopping me. Go save yours, and try not to be a hypocrite.

Maybe I'm the one, maybe I'm the one [Locked to Bruce]

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I am bored of these two icons. Please to be pretending this is still Batman tastic.

rofl fair enough

And again!

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