overflow.

[riskfalling]

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@webspins

[riskfalling]

[ from here ]

I can definitely teach you trapeze, and you aren't allowed to cheat.

So, are you going to bring the kitten back, or am I going to have to come looking for you?

[ As fun as it would be to play hide-and-seek through the city, he should probably offer the responsible option first, right? ]

[webspins]

okay the webs are obvious, but how will you know if i'm sticking to things?
actually that might be a challenge for me, it's pretty much an automatic reflex now
but i can control it. not like when i was first going through all this and i was sticking randomly to things

[ that was fun. it probably would have been hilarious to watch, lucky for her no one was around to laugh at her ]

i'm almost there! i'm not going full speed with junior on board dude
that would be good for you if you had to track me down, there's no way you could catch me otherwise

[riskfalling]

[ WOW. ]

you did NOT just say you could get away from me.

[ the a u d a c i t y ]

[webspins]

that's exactly what i said

[ and that's exactly why she said it, she knew it would ruffle his feathers ]

because i can
if i want to

[riskfalling]

[ listen here you little punk ]

I'd like to see you try

[ look, he knows what she's up to, but just because he knows doesn't mean he isn't going to allow himself to fall for it completely. ]

you talk a big game, spider-woman. I wonder if you can put your money where that mouth is.

perfect i have passed on the curse

[webspins]

[ what she's not up to anything! ]

bold of you to assume that i have money
but metaphorically yes, i will
BUT if you want to play a game of vigilante tag it should be on neutral ground
you can't cheat your way out of this one, feathers

[riskfalling]

I don't need to cheat
unlike a certain bug girl I know

[ Feathers. ]

Neutral ground, huh? So not New York, Bludhaven, or Gotham
How about Paris?

[ Why not? ]

[webspins]

[ feathers is cute! bug girl, on the other hand... ]

oh wow no, we are not doing bug girl
it makes me sound like i'm part cricket or something

i could work with paris
they really shouldn't have built the eiffel tower like that if they didn't want us climbing and swinging off of it honestly

[riskfalling]

[ look, there just aren't that many cute spider-themed nicknames out there. legs? charlotte? bane of arachnophobes everywhere? ]

I actually know someone who can channel a cricket
along with every other animal in existence, but still

Paris, then

[ he almost adds it's a date but that would be weird. right? weird? ]

don't worry, I won't actually make you pay me anything when you lose
the knowledge that I'm right and you're wrong will be more than enough for me

[webspins]

[ spiders just aren't usually very cute, it's a struggle. most of her nicknames are just based on her name ]

it's a [ not a date who said anything about a date?? he didn't! it's just a plan, to do a thing ] deal. yeah, a very fair one

[ what a totally normal and not at all awkward way to say that ]

so what do i get when i inevitably swing circles around you? is this for bragging rights only?

[riskfalling]

[ literally no one said (or typed) the word 'date.' it's fine. they'll just hang out in paris, a famously unromantic place to be. ]

why plan for something that's never gonna happen?okay, okay
if you win, you can text the batfam group chat to let them know you beat me

[ he would never hear the end of it. not even death would release him from the mockery. ]

[webspins]

[ yeah, she kinda clocked that too. it's fine! she's definitely not reading into it, because... well, a lot of reasons but honestly mostly because she doesn't want to completely embarrass herself here ]

you've gotta motivate me!

wooow yeah alright that'll work
but you'd have to do it before i head back so i can see the replies

[riskfalling]

I promise
I can do that, because it won't matter

[ it's a good thing he doesn't have to explain what he does or where he goes to Batman anymore, because he's pretty sure he wouldn't be able to find a way to make this make sense. ]

but for now, just bring the cat back, please

[webspins]

yeah, we'll see about that buddy

[ gwen hasn't considered the other obvious angle on the teasing, or exactly what he has and hasn't told his crew, but hey ]

tell somebody to open the back window would ya?

[riskfalling]

someone has.

[ The same someone who's now leaning back against the wall, letting the sounds of the party wash over him as he types into his phone. ]

don't worry
I'll let you get as much practice in as you need before game time

[webspins]

"someone"?

i don't need practice, i'm ready to go whenever you are, pal

[ She can't exactly toss the kitten through the window, even though he probably wouldn't mind and she's not webbing the poor little guy up into a ball or anything wild like that. Instead she lands lightly on the window sill, hanging onto the frame with one hand while leaning down to carefully deposit him onto the floor. ]

[riskfalling]

You should learn to take an advantage when one comes your way.

[ The kitten, none the worse for wear, stalks directly over to Dick and begins winding determinedly around his ankles, butting her tiny, bony head into his calf while he holds out a hand to help Gwen through the window. Not that she needs it, but it's the gentlemanly thing to do. ]

You two have fun?

@reneger

[riskfalling]

[ from here ]

[ He shifts with an air of long-suffering indulgence, letting Jason rummage around while he focuses on keeping what's left of Jason's blood inside his body. Each stitch makes him feel a little better, at least. They do pretty well, for being unenhanced humans throwing themselves bodily into the middle of fights with metas and guns, but it's times like these that he wishes his brothers had even just a hint of healing ability. ]

I'm going to take that personally, just so you know.

[ Maroni, getting in deep with new tech. Not to crib a line from Blockbuster, but Blüdhaven is his city. Why the hell didn't he hear about this before Jason got shot trying to get intel?

Well, he can take care of it now. He's just got to wait until Jason's passed out and recuperating. He can slip out, swing down to where the deal's supposed to go down. Probably he should get in touch with Melinda; it's possible she's heard some rumors.

Jason grabs for his phone, and Dick lifts his eyebrows at him: really? ]

Feeding that Candy Crush addiction, huh?

[reneger]

( he can feel his body getting heavier--which is both annoying and concerning. passing out like this wasn't on his game plan, and he doesn't like how it gets more and more clear by the moment that dick's going to win, here. is it winning? it feels like dick winning. the needle breaks through skin, and jason winces--because he hadn't been paying attention, because it'd been particularly sensitive.

pulls him back up out of that near-tired state though, which is nice. so thanks for that. jason gives a little half laugh, putting in the passcode for his phone to get into it (his deathday, because it's funny, and this isn't the phone he feels the need to hide from other bats), and pulls up a text conversation with alan. a string of numbers was the last received text, which dick'll know well enough to translate into a location.

jason copies the string, forwards it on to dick's phone. helpfully. because he's pissed someone got the drop on him, because they're working on a time limit that jason's not going to be able to meet now that he's all beat up.

not because he's happy handing it over to dick. )

Candy crush is so last decade. Stop being old, Dick.

[riskfalling]

Sorry. Can't. It's part of my thing, now. I'm considering adding a cane to my get-up; what do you think?

[ His phone chimes; good boy, Jason. Just for that, Dick will be a little nicer when he has to roll him over to get at the exit wound on the back. ] Though it's kind of looking like you'll need it more than me.

[ The sutures stem the bleeding, though his fingers and Jason's skin are still slippery and red. But what blood Jason has left will stay inside him; that's about the best they can hope for. Dick casts his memory back, trying to recall if he still has a few shots left of antibiotics.

His instinct is to call Alfred. Still. Even after all this time – not that it's been long enough, not that it will ever be long enough – it's still his first thought when one of them is hurt and needs care. Dick can make a pot of tea, stitch up a wound, fluff pillows, but it's not the same. There's a familiar ache behind his breastbone as he finishes stitching Jason up; pats his brother on the thigh. ]

Come on, Jason. Turn over and let me finish sewing you up, and then you can crash on my couch as long as you want. Haley'll love it.

[reneger]

Oh fuck off. ( harsh words, but they don't match the airy teasing lilt to his tone. ) Just 'cause I've been shot to hell and back doesn't mean I'll need to hobble. 's not like they got me in the knee. Again.

( if getting shot was enough to keep him down he'd have retired years ago. there's enough holes and gashes in him that it would have taken out most people, but they're not most people. none of them are. and jason's fine, fuck you very much. or he will be, after he stops bleeding and gets in a good nap. dick tells him to turn over and with a grunt he's dropping his phone down and twisting to rest a palm against the table, turning over onto his side so he can then flop over flat onto his stomach on the table.

it hurts, every twitch that causes his abdomen stings, but he'll live. )

'll babysit Haley for you if you'll babysit my mobsters.

( that's a fair exchange, right? )

[riskfalling]

That's a terrible deal. I go convince your mobsters to lead a more wholesome life while you stay here to be a bad influence on my dog?

[ He cleans up Jason's back as he talks, each motion familiar and gentle. The alcohol will sting, he knows, but if Jason hasn't passed out yet, he probably won't from that, either. And the finish line is in sight; they're almost there. Dick can carry him over that just like he carried him into the apartment. Soon, these will be just another couple of Jason's scars, the ones Dick can feel on his own body every time he sees them.

A few more stitches. The exit wound is larger, messier, requires more focus. Dick's no surgeon, but they've all gotten pretty good at this part, and he thinks it should heal okay, provided Jason actually takes it easy for a little while. ]

But I guess there's no way around it. Don't stay up too late, and no ice cream after midnight.

[reneger]

( dick's good enough for what jason needs here. he's no longer leaking so much blood it's trailing behind him. the adrenaline has run it's course, but it's fine because he's in one piece, and he doesn't need the heavy thrum of his heart beating faster than a jackrabbit to keep him up anymore. he hisses between teeth at the sting of alcohol, but that's all just normal, very day pain. jason's used to this part. he's done this part for himself more often than not.

and jason's letting himself go lax, trusting dick not to fuck him up. )

'd never be a bad influence on my only niece. Be a real shit example to pull while we're all still looking for Lian.

( he's always a terrible example. it's fine, jason's not fucking over the dog. haley's a good girl, he can feed her spoonfuls of ice cream after midnight and she won't tell. )

And you can't tell me when to go to bed. You're not my real mom.

[riskfalling]

Watch it, buster. Keep up that attitude and you won't get any cookies or juice. I'll send you straight to your room.

[ Which is a goddamn lie, because Jason not only needs sugar, he probably needs a pint or two of blood. The former Dick has on hand; the latter, not so much.

He finishes with the stitching – thank God, his hand was starting to cramp up – and pats Jason on the shoulder. ]

Come on. One last stumble across the apartment and then you can stay on my couch as long as you need.

[ Haley is ready. She has her favorite toy – an enormous white plush rat with a squeaker that won't quit – in her mouth and she's sitting by the couch, staring expectantly at them, her tail going a mile a minute as it sweeps over the floor. ]

And then you and Haley can have some girl talk while I go take care of business.

i'm tagging this back months later bc i just found it and i can

[reneger]

( the whine is less at the threat of no cookies or juice and more at the thought of having to get up after he's just settled back down. but jason - does start to roll himself off the table, catching himself on the foot closest to the floor and making sure that leg can hold his weight up before he moves the other one down, too, and

gets up.

see, he's up. even if he's woozy enough he almost, almost falls. )

I'm gonna get her to spill all the gossip on what you've been up to. ( not that he needs it. he's filling space with idle conversation, using it to keep himself focused. grounded. ) 'ley loves me, she'll do it.