[ he has a rebuttal for that, could say that it was an accident, that Superman would never intentionally kill thousands of people, that he loves humanity and earth, and that they, too, have blood on their hands.
paranoia, however, was by definition unreasonable. the words stick in his throat then vanish when Bruce pushes on. ]
Am Iāyeah. Yeah. [ of course Bruce cuts straight to the chase. this isnāt something up for debate. ] Iām not gonna let you go in there alone.
[ It's a small relief that Dick agrees. He'd been prepared to go in alone, just Alfred in his ear if Dick had refused. But his boy wouldn't let him go in there alone and secretly, Bruce is pleased. They really were a dynamic duo. ]
Blueprints put the room I need downstairs in near the kitchens. Alfred's going to talk me through how to get me there. You make sure no one follows me down those stairs.
['We'? It surprises him, even if his expression doesn't really change. He hadn't expected anyone else would even understand why this needed to be done. Alfred's spent this entire investigation trying to dissuade him from taking drastic (preemptive) measures against Superman. But Bruce had set his mind to it, resigned himself to doing it alone.
But there is Dick, once again, proving why he'd chosen well when he decided to take on a partner. ]
Sounds like a plan. It's black tie so, dress nice. Maybe I'll forget what I went there for.
[ he won't but who can resist some light flirting? ]
[ heās not going to leave you and risk you getting hurt. heās going to do something about it and stay close to it. whatās that thing they say? if you canāt beat āem, join āem? itās strategy more than anything.
but Bruce can be charming as hell, and Dick has never been as good at keeping his eyes from giving him away. the flirt raises his brow and warms his gaze then materializes into a quiet laugh. ]
It's that easy?
[ a tip of his head. ]
You know Alfredās been pulling his hair out trying to get you to stop, right?
[ He's always loved the warmth of Dick's gaze. Even after all of these years, it never feels like it's too much or too intense. Sometimes, it still had the power to make Bruce feel like he's the only person in the world that matters to Dick. That feels nice too.
But he can't bask in that warmth because Dick's bringing up Alfred and their disagreement and that makes him cold. ]
I'm not going to give him the chance to wipe us all out, Dick.
[ He has his hands in his pockets. There's a batarang there and he runs a finger over the sharp edges. ]
He's too dangerous. I can see that. Alfred can't.
[ he didn't have to agree. Bruce didn't need him to agree. He just needed him to help. ]
Party starts at 8. I'll be here to pick you up by 7. It's a long drive to Metropolis.
[ Dick hadn't meant for it to snuff out that little ember Bruce seemed to suggest, but his comment about Alfred chills Bruce's words and in turn, cools his own gaze. there's a motion somewhere in Bruce's pocket, and Dick flickers his eyes down before lifting up to Bruce's expression again, his own now defensive.
it would honestly be more surprising had Bruce not brought a weapon with him, but that he fidgets with it in his pocket concerns Dick. as always, when Bruce is set on doing something his way (which is all the time), he leaves no room for discussion. ]
Why do you wanna pick me up? I know how to get there.
[ Things in Bruce's life could be so transitory, nothing ever staying in one place for very long. Friendships, partnerships. People, places, things. But, the batarang is something solid. Part of an identity that has never abandoned him, or turned its back on him. Or tried to convince him he was wrong, not thinking clearly when he knew empirically that he couldn't be thinking any more clearly.
Dick's defensive and Bruce isn't doing much to diffuse it. He's used to it. ]
[ this one is on him, probably, that Dick pushes away and Bruce doesn't bother keeping him close. he should feel relieved for it, but he doesn't. instead, he just feels... ]
Sorry, wait. I think we should go together.
[ he shouldn't make this harder on any of them. he said he'd help, so he should help. ]
I'll be ready here. Then we can go through the plan on our drive over and iron out any last minute details.
[ It's easy to feel cut off from the people who care about him. He makes them push away from him. Maybe so they don't get caught up in the blast radius. Safe, but out of reach. It's by design, really. Bruce knows he's not an easy man to love. He doesn't make it easy. That's by design too.
He doesn't say thank you. Just offers Dick a nod. ]
I'll be here at 7.
idk if you wanna get into nitty gritty, we can skip ahead too!
[ When they're together like this? It's easy to forget that they were ever broken. It's easy to fall back into old habits when they bond remains in tact, even if it's stretched out of shape. Pushed and pulled and twisted, but still holding. And by the end of it, they've decided on a plan and agree on the parameters.
Luthor would never see them coming.
They're fashionably late to the party, the inside already swarming with guests. Outside they pose for pictures, though you couldn't really call a halfhearted smile from Bruce a pose. But it was all the bottom feeders could get out of him these days. Inside, as he and Dick separate to mingle. The plan is flawlessly executed with Alfred's guidance. He's able to get the tether on Luthor's system but finds it missing when he goes to retrieve it. He's stopped by Clark and the two have a spirited debate about the Bat vigilante. ]
Call my office if you want an interview, Mr. Kent. I need to find my plus one.
[ and he slips away to look for Dick, and trying not to be too agitated. ]
[ falling back into step with Bruce feels as natural as breathing. itās easy to do, so long as he doesnāt think too hard about it.
Alfred and Bruceās voices are both in his ear, and he carefully excuses himself from his riveting conversation after Bruce steps away from his. Dick finds him in the crowd, weaves to his side smoothly. ]
So youāre referring to me as your plus-one now?
[ itās an easy quip with a wry smile, and he keeps his words quiet and voice low, looking like a simple greeting to anyone who glanced their way. as he steps closer, the amusement fades out of his eyes. ]
The woman on your two o-clock. Itās in her purse.
[ Bruce is grateful when Dick joins him. He lost sight of the woman and when he points her out, Bruce turns to meet her gaze and frowns. He's seen her before, he's pretty sure. Maybe when they came in? He doesn't say for sure.
[ Dick nods once to Bruce and quickly sweeps the room to once again take count of the exits (one into a service hallway, a few large operable windows that'll be too obvious to escape through, another into an alley, and a fire exit directly outside, hidden beneath thick drapery).
he'll post himself toward the entry into the room, and he starts to step away before a last note to Bruce. ]
Don't be shy to call for help if you need me, okay?
[ He spares Dick a wry smile before slipping away into the crowd to catch the woman before she could make a break for an exit. She likely did not want to draw too much attention to herself, considering she took the tether and did not bother to report what she'd found to Luthor or his security.
Luthor must have something she wants as much as Bruce does.
When he catches up with her, he pulls her in close, tucks her hand under his arm as they walk together and they speak in low hushed tones. She smiled at him and offered him... nothing before turning to make her way to the exit where Dick's set up.
He taps the ear piece to open the comm line with Dick. ]
[ Dick watches the exchange from the corner of his eye, noticing that smooth way Bruce always has about him in this role, the natural way he just sets her arm in the crook of his and dips his head so gracefully to speak.
Dick turns before Bruceās voice is even in his ear and his posture sharpens just a little more than before. heās bracing for something, but she walks right up to him like itās nothing, so poised and composed with the faintest smile on her lips. she stops just close enough to reach both him and the comm. ]
Youāre quite good at your job.
[ the words catch Dick off guard for how smoothly she says it, just as an observation, not a compliment. before he can respond, she steps in closer, brushes past with practiced ease and slips something into his palm. he spares but a glance down, but when he looks up again, sheās gone.
he blinks and darts to the door as it shuts behind her, pushing through only to catch the glimpse of her dress and heel disappearing into a black car.
fuck. ]
Sheās gone, Bruce.
[ he turns over his hand. a card. ]
I think I got her number, though.
Edited (lordt excuse my grammar and typos) 2025-04-23 03:56 (UTC)
[ He could hear her voice in through the comm and knew the second she opened her mouth they'd lost her. Damnit. He would never have another opportunity like this. If they didn't recover that drive, his lead on the White Portuguese would dry up.
He glances back at the party, at the stairs leading to the server room. It'd been a risk the first time. A second attempt wouldn't be wise. It would take too much time. He would have to come back with the suit. Alfred is in his ear telling him as much. Their only chance would be to find that woman.
He slips back into the crowd, cutting through smoothly until he's close to Dick again. ]
[ damnit. tension pulls through Dick's jaw as Bruce approaches him, weaving through like crowd like it's not there at all. to anyone else, Bruce's displeasure might be invisible, but Dick sees it loud and clear.
he tucks the card into the pocket of his pressed trousers, folding in his hand after it. ]
I couldn't stop her. [ the apology hangs just on his tongue. ] Do you know her? How'd she pull that by both of us?
[ It wasn't Dick's fault. Not really. He wasn't trying to blame him. There'd just been something about that woman. Something Bruce hadn't quite figured out and it intrigued him. ]
No. I've never seen her before.
[ As for how she pulled this off? Bruce didn't have an answer. Frustratingly enough. ]
[ Dick doesnāt say anything to that. Bruce is clearly intrigued, he would recognize that frustrated curiosity anywhere.
and Dick isnāt sure how to really feel about it.
the car rolls up and they slip into the vehicle. Dick is already running footage on his device, pulling camera angles with Bruce watching over his shoulders until he facial recognition catches onto something. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
he canāt say no because Bruce needs him. he canāt abandon Bruce to the paranoia.
he starts to shake his head before a sigh precludes his words. ]
You need it? Heās not our enemy.
no subject
Dick, you saw what he did in Metropolis. Thousands of people dead. Thousands. I'm not waiting for a higher body count before I do something about it.
[ It's the paranoia, but it sounds so much like clarity to him. ]
Are you going to help me or not?
no subject
paranoia, however, was by definition unreasonable. the words stick in his throat then vanish when Bruce pushes on. ]
Am Iāyeah. Yeah. [ of course Bruce cuts straight to the chase. this isnāt something up for debate. ] Iām not gonna let you go in there alone.
Have a specific distraction youāre looking for?
no subject
Blueprints put the room I need downstairs in near the kitchens. Alfred's going to talk me through how to get me there. You make sure no one follows me down those stairs.
no subject
Okay. I got your back, Bruce. Iāll make sure no one tails you. Could you let me know what you find, though? I just wanna know.
[ curiosity aside, Bruce at the edge of his paranoia is something Dick has to monitor. this he knows by now. ]
no subject
You should stop by the Cave sometime. I'll show you everything I have so far.
[ The invitation is his way of saying thanks. And of course 'you never visit anymore.' ]
no subject
Yeah. Sure.
[ inviting him to a party, to work a case, and to the cave all in one night. what has he done to deserve this? ]
Maybe after Luthor's party, we could head back together. I'll help you figure out whatever it is you find in those files.
[ see? he meant it when he said he has your back, but it's not all that simple when he's skeptical of Bruce's plans in the first place. ]
Then we can decide what to do about it. [ we, because Dick wants to be in on it. ]
no subject
But there is Dick, once again, proving why he'd chosen well when he decided to take on a partner. ]
Sounds like a plan. It's black tie so, dress nice. Maybe I'll forget what I went there for.
[ he won't but who can resist some light flirting? ]
no subject
but Bruce can be charming as hell, and Dick has never been as good at keeping his eyes from giving him away. the flirt raises his brow and warms his gaze then materializes into a quiet laugh. ]
It's that easy?
[ a tip of his head. ]
You know Alfredās been pulling his hair out trying to get you to stop, right?
no subject
But he can't bask in that warmth because Dick's bringing up Alfred and their disagreement and that makes him cold. ]
I'm not going to give him the chance to wipe us all out, Dick.
[ He has his hands in his pockets. There's a batarang there and he runs a finger over the sharp edges. ]
He's too dangerous. I can see that. Alfred can't.
[ he didn't have to agree. Bruce didn't need him to agree. He just needed him to help. ]
Party starts at 8. I'll be here to pick you up by 7. It's a long drive to Metropolis.
no subject
it would honestly be more surprising had Bruce not brought a weapon with him, but that he fidgets with it in his pocket concerns Dick. as always, when Bruce is set on doing something his way (which is all the time), he leaves no room for discussion. ]
Why do you wanna pick me up? I know how to get there.
no subject
Dick's defensive and Bruce isn't doing much to diffuse it. He's used to it. ]
Fine. I'll see you there.
no subject
Sorry, wait. I think we should go together.
[ he shouldn't make this harder on any of them. he said he'd help, so he should help. ]
I'll be ready here. Then we can go through the plan on our drive over and iron out any last minute details.
no subject
He doesn't say thank you. Just offers Dick a nod. ]
I'll be here at 7.
idk if you wanna get into nitty gritty, we can skip ahead too!
a quiet breath sifts out. ]
You wannaā¦come in?
[ they still havenāt made it past the entry, where Bruce sprung the invitation on him. ]
Go over the blueprints? Tell me where you want me?
I can skip ahead!
Luthor would never see them coming.
They're fashionably late to the party, the inside already swarming with guests. Outside they pose for pictures, though you couldn't really call a halfhearted smile from Bruce a pose. But it was all the bottom feeders could get out of him these days. Inside, as he and Dick separate to mingle. The plan is flawlessly executed with Alfred's guidance. He's able to get the tether on Luthor's system but finds it missing when he goes to retrieve it. He's stopped by Clark and the two have a spirited debate about the Bat vigilante. ]
Call my office if you want an interview, Mr. Kent. I need to find my plus one.
[ and he slips away to look for Dick, and trying not to be too agitated. ]
ty!
Alfred and Bruceās voices are both in his ear, and he carefully excuses himself from his riveting conversation after Bruce steps away from his. Dick finds him in the crowd, weaves to his side smoothly. ]
So youāre referring to me as your plus-one now?
[ itās an easy quip with a wry smile, and he keeps his words quiet and voice low, looking like a simple greeting to anyone who glanced their way. as he steps closer, the amusement fades out of his eyes. ]
The woman on your two o-clock. Itās in her purse.
no subject
He just keeps his voice low. ]
Cover the exit. I'm going to go speak with her.
no subject
he'll post himself toward the entry into the room, and he starts to step away before a last note to Bruce. ]
Don't be shy to call for help if you need me, okay?
no subject
Luthor must have something she wants as much as Bruce does.
When he catches up with her, he pulls her in close, tucks her hand under his arm as they walk together and they speak in low hushed tones. She smiled at him and offered him... nothing before turning to make her way to the exit where Dick's set up.
He taps the ear piece to open the comm line with Dick. ]
She's heading your way. She still has the tether.
no subject
Dick turns before Bruceās voice is even in his ear and his posture sharpens just a little more than before. heās bracing for something, but she walks right up to him like itās nothing, so poised and composed with the faintest smile on her lips. she stops just close enough to reach both him and the comm. ]
Youāre quite good at your job.
[ the words catch Dick off guard for how smoothly she says it, just as an observation, not a compliment. before he can respond, she steps in closer, brushes past with practiced ease and slips something into his palm. he spares but a glance down, but when he looks up again, sheās gone.
he blinks and darts to the door as it shuts behind her, pushing through only to catch the glimpse of her dress and heel disappearing into a black car.
fuck. ]
Sheās gone, Bruce.
[ he turns over his hand. a card. ]
I think I got her number, though.
no subject
He glances back at the party, at the stairs leading to the server room. It'd been a risk the first time. A second attempt wouldn't be wise. It would take too much time. He would have to come back with the suit. Alfred is in his ear telling him as much. Their only chance would be to find that woman.
He slips back into the crowd, cutting through smoothly until he's close to Dick again. ]
Let's go. I want to look at that card.
[ But not here. Back at the cave. ]
no subject
he tucks the card into the pocket of his pressed trousers, folding in his hand after it. ]
I couldn't stop her. [ the apology hangs just on his tongue. ] Do you know her? How'd she pull that by both of us?
no subject
No. I've never seen her before.
[ As for how she pulled this off? Bruce didn't have an answer. Frustratingly enough. ]
But, I'll figure her out.
Oops totally lost this one
and Dick isnāt sure how to really feel about it.
the car rolls up and they slip into the vehicle. Dick is already running footage on his device, pulling camera angles with Bruce watching over his shoulders until he facial recognition catches onto something. ]
Here we go.
[ he looks up at Bruce to catch his reaction. ]
No worries!