Oh well, that's not how Tim wanted to wake up this morning but he can feel his surprise wearing off faster and faster as these things keep happening to him. At least this conversation won't be as emotionally taxing as talking about Damian with Bruce.
In fairness, Peter isn't even certain he'll get a response. Not given what the message said and the fact that while he's come to be more open about it, he knows that he hasn't been with anyone for a long time.
He considers the message he does get, and what he thinks of that. The truth is, he isn't sure how to answer that all things considered. He has a lot of questions. He's just not sure he has a right to ask.
Yeah, there's a few. There's also the acceptance that you didn't want me to know this and its wrong to ask.
If you're ever ready or wanting to talk about it, we can.
Tim can understand that Peter might be a little hurt by the lies he had fed him on the day they'd met but Tim hopes he can make him understand why.
I'm not disappointed you now know and I'm sorry that I didn't tell you but I was new to the city and we had only met. As I'm sure you know telling people these things can be very hit-and-miss on how dangerous things can get quickly.
You can ask away and I won't lie to you again. I may refuse to answer though.
Peter knows he shouldn't be hurt. He also knows he is, but he doesn't want Tim to feel bad for protecting himself. It leaves him staring at the phone for a few, considering what to say.
I don't blame you though for hiding it. Okay? I want you to know that.
I only became open about it after the city made a lot of it public. Not to mention another of myself here who is more open about things and has many from home who know who he is.
I hate to think about anyone doing this since they were so young. I'm sorry things were that bad in your world.
I've never been open about it but I've since learnt there are plenty in this city who have already been informed and that looking back through the network would have exposed me anyway.
They weren't that bad but someone needed my help and I wasn't willing to sit back and not do something.
Did you want to come around? I can show you something.
I hadn't ever been before this place either. Just individuals that know. Peter One had friends and others who knew, and that start another entirely different horrific moment for him. I can see not being open.
I'd like to talk to you about it, yeah. If you want. I won't expect it just because this place did this to you.
Out of curiosity, why is he Peter One and you're Peter Two? or are you another higher number?
My window will be open when you get here.
[Considering the cold of the season, Tim's is the only window open when Peter gets to the Down Housing and the boy is sitting on his bed with a hot mug of something and his laptop on the bed next to him]
[ There's no response to that question as Peter launches himself out his own window and heads for the elevator. Wearing his street clothes and dropping down out of sight, though his secret isn't safe at all.
It's that alone that takes him the longest, using his own transport to get to the Down housing. He's never been there before, he realizes, slipping in the window and landing on his feet. ]
Actually... [ Yep, he starts mid text conversation. ] I'm Peter Three. We were drawn in by a sorcerer to Peter One's world, and in mid combat we realized people just yelling our name was distracting so Peter One assigned us. It was his world, after all, so he was One.
[Sorry Peter, even if Tim was expecting you that leap into his bedroom still startled him and Peter is going to need to dodge if he wants to avoid the mug that is getting thrown at his head]
[Tim cringes and comes forward to take the mug from Peter and place it on the closest available surface.]
I know, I left the window open for you but I still just- instinct. At least you caught it? Otherwise, that would have been the second mug this week.
[Tim does look apologetic and pulls Peter away from the window so he can close it and the apartment can warm up again. He flaps his hands towards his bed and the laptop that's sitting on it]
So um... Peter Three, I happen to be Robin Three, except with no multiverse involved. I'm just the third person to use the Robin name. Now, using Red Robin because well, Robin got taken from me and I'm not that creative apparently.
Actually, it was Kurt and he didn't need a window. He just [He makes a motion with his hands like an explosion] poof and appeared in my lounge room. That mug did break because the man can dodge but he doesn't have your reflexes apparently.
That was impressive by the way, I'm super jealous.
I actually usually use a type of throwing knife so you're lucky it was just a mug?
[Tim cringes but Peter won't be able to tell if it's the image of him throwing a knife at Peter or the mention of his name being taken away]
Cause Robin is a sidekick to Batman. If Batman decides you're not Robin anymore, then you're not.
You know people that can just... wait, like a mutant like some of the others here?
[ He's seen the name Kurt come up on the network with a few others, like Laura and Logan he's learned are. And Scott and Nate but that's another story. ]
I have this thing. A tingle. It warns about danger. Including mugs... and knives!
[ He's trying to be playful about it but the rest makes him frown. ]
What the hell kind of treatment is that? You work with him and just one day nope? That's bullshit.
I believe so? I haven't asked him exactly but he posted on the network about delivering presents for Christmas and I volunteered to help prep, wrap things and all that.
Still didn't mean that him appearing in my room suddenly didn't earn him a mug to the head.
[Tim sheepishly shrugs but then crosses his arms when Peter gets angry on his behalf]
It wasn't quite like that, there were extenuating circumstances. The previous Batman was believed to be dead and everyone was in mourning. The gangs had figured it out and just, [He sags] It sucked but it's not so cut and dry and I made it sound.
The new Robin needed it at the time and I- [It had been the last thing Tim had and it was just taken from him. Somedays he wonders if letting Damian kill him would have been kinder. He shakes his head and moves over to the laptop and opens it up, bringing up a newspaper article talking about Batman and Robin capturing someone named the Penguin. There are a couple of photos of this Penguin and a night shot of two figures flying through the air, blurry and not anywhere near the grade Peter would deliver to the Bugle]
I'll try and warn you next time, or just work to save the mugs for you.
[ He listens, head canting slightly. He's still so used to working on his own that he isn't as quick on how these teams work as others are. He's still trying to make sense of it but he can't help but ask one question. ]
What did you need?
[ He asks it softly even as he comes over to look at the article. He considers it for a moment. ]
Why can't there be more than one Robin? Or some other name to go along with bats and birds? I mean, Peter One has the Avengers and there's like a half dozen of them or something.
Just, pause and climb through the window. I was expecting you to come through the window but you kind of skipped that part. There aren't too many people who can just throw themselves through that small a space with confidence.
[Although most of his compatriots would have been able to sneak in the window without a noise. Tim knows to listen out for that as well. It was the sudden, nothing to Peter being right there that had set him off. That's the excuse he'll tell himself anyway]
There are actually plenty of us, Batman, Batwoman, Nightwing, Robin, Red Robin, Batgirl, Black Bat, Huntress I could really go on and on. And that's just in Gotham City. It's just Batman and Robin go together and I don't know, it's just not been done before.
[Did Tim just ignore Peter's first question. Yes, very deliberately.]
Oh! Can I throw pebbles at your window? Or should I get a boom box and blast something appropriate?
[ He can't help it. He just a had a mug thrown at him and he's teasing given the smile he's wearing. ]
Yeah, lots of practice of how to angle myself just so to get through a window. Spider skill.
[ He shrugs, looking almost sheepish, since he knows that spiders know how to glide using their web strings, but not to explain the sensation of knowing just the right angle to do it. ]
Huh. You're kind of lucky, you know. I mean, maybe not entirely but I never had anyone until recently to share all of this with, you know? Or feel comfortable sharing it with.
[ Gwen knew he was Spider-Man, but the one time he hadn't denied her being there, she died. ]
There's always been others you did this with?
[ Which is slowly starting to broach what the note had said. ]
[Tim looks at Peter with an exaggerated pout on his face]
I thought you were aiming not to get more stuff thrown at you because I'm sure if you turn up with a boom box I'm not the one who will be throwing things. Or not the only one.
[He seems actually fine with the teasing and considering that Peter didn't get hurt he doesn't seem too worried about the mug throwing either]
Oh yeah, a lot of those people weren't around when I started. It was basically just Batman and Robin at that point, although Batgirl had been and um... moved on. [yeah he's not explaining Babs' situation to Peter]
But yeah I am lucky in that aspect. There's always been Batman and I got introduced to heroes from other cities and more people kept joining the fight in Gotham. There was the Avengers that someone mentioned once, like a group of heroes.
In my world, they're called the Justice League and Batman is one of the founding members.
[ He doesn't think about how much he's becoming the man he had once been more and more while he's in this city, while he's feeling freer in this place. ]
Yeah, that's what they are in our world, according to Peter One, and he worked with them for a while. Never had anyone else in a suit on my side until I ended up in his world. It's less scary I guess than letting others in. They know what they're in for and the risks.
[ He considers that, about all that Tim hadn't told him and is now, about their teams. ]
Your world, like mine, no one knows who Robin and Batman and all of them are though. Hence just being the ceo son of a billionaire. Which, I'm just saying, must make funding your suit and equipment easy.
[Tim just rolls his eyes with a smile at Peter's teasing.]
You'll have to choose another 80's romcom in which to whoo me with. I think I'm more partial to being serenaded with a high school marching band ala Ten Things I Hate About You.
[Tim nods to the question about secret identities]
Yeah, secret identities are extremely important to Batman. Secrets in general really, even when the League was founded the other members didn't know who was underneath the cowl. They do now but it took a while.
The billionaire thing pays for more than just the suit and equipment. There are so so many gadgets, the batmobile, the batplane, all the safe houses.
[Not to mention the space station hovering up in space but he's only giving away so much right now]
Don't tempt me. If you think I won't try and find one here, you underestimate me.
[ And now, just because, he kind of wished he thought he could find a marching band there. Just for the Hell of it. ]
I get that. A lot of people who knew mine are dead now. Or... or going through a lot worse. I don't know where Harry is now. So I get it. That's the weirdest thing here for me because everyone hears the name Peter Parker and they just know who I am and they see Spider-Man and they know who is under there.
Luuuucky. I'm pretty much me and myself and paying the bills hand to mouth basically.
[Tim laughs and shakes his head] If you find a way to serenade me like that then I will write a poem about how much I don't hate you, or do hate you, depending on how good that performance is.
[He'd better not because Tim doesn't know if he can do poetry but it's an amusing image]
Yeah, I haven't quite to that point but I found my identity reveal on one of the old Finders. Apparently, the old me had to go through this but on a more widespread platform. It appears most who knew are gone now though.
There are still a lot of heroes like that. Huntress in my city does it on a teacher's salary which is just kind of amazing.
Oh so now we're judging my singing. Maybe if I sing. I see how it is. Though no one has ever written poetry for me. Never even gotten flowers. Someone's going to need to step up their game.
I guess they figure we can't connect if we have secrets? Or trauma bonding, maybe. Whatever it is, I keep finding myself excited to be open about it... and then terrified.
[ People who knew died, or got hurt. He hates that those options come up the most. ]
If I had gotten my degree, that would probably be me. And still selling photos on the side to make it.
No flowers? Well, that's just a tragedy. You might count yourself lucky, my longest relationship started with a brick to the face. Flowers would have been nicer.
[And it ended with her faking her death, coming back and hiring a hitman on him causing the burns scars that still sit on the back of his neck and head; hidden under hair currently. He now wonders how he thought it could end any differently considering its beginning]
I think they just like to stir the pot and gauge how we act under stressful situations. Or perhaps they don't like the lies. [Tim sighs with a shrug] We are 'LIERS' after all.
You wanted to go into teaching? teaching what and at what level?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Peter will eventually get a reply.
You probably have some questions for me hey?
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He considers the message he does get, and what he thinks of that. The truth is, he isn't sure how to answer that all things considered. He has a lot of questions. He's just not sure he has a right to ask.
Yeah, there's a few. There's also the acceptance that you didn't want me to know this and its wrong to ask.
If you're ever ready or wanting to talk about it, we can.
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I'm not disappointed you now know and I'm sorry that I didn't tell you but I was new to the city and we had only met. As I'm sure you know telling people these things can be very hit-and-miss on how dangerous things can get quickly.
You can ask away and I won't lie to you again. I may refuse to answer though.
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I don't blame you though for hiding it. Okay? I want you to know that.
I only became open about it after the city made a lot of it public. Not to mention another of myself here who is more open about things and has many from home who know who he is.
I hate to think about anyone doing this since they were so young. I'm sorry things were that bad in your world.
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They weren't that bad but someone needed my help and I wasn't willing to sit back and not do something.
Did you want to come around? I can show you something.
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Peter One had friends and others who knew, and that start another entirely different horrific moment for him. I can see not being open.
I'd like to talk to you about it, yeah. If you want. I won't expect it just because this place did this to you.
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My window will be open when you get here.
[Considering the cold of the season, Tim's is the only window open when Peter gets to the Down Housing and the boy is sitting on his bed with a hot mug of something and his laptop on the bed next to him]
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It's that alone that takes him the longest, using his own transport to get to the Down housing. He's never been there before, he realizes, slipping in the window and landing on his feet. ]
Actually... [ Yep, he starts mid text conversation. ] I'm Peter Three. We were drawn in by a sorcerer to Peter One's world, and in mid combat we realized people just yelling our name was distracting so Peter One assigned us. It was his world, after all, so he was One.
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Though his hand shoots up, catching the mug. He can't let it shatter, can he? ]
Hey! You told me the window was open!
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[Tim cringes and comes forward to take the mug from Peter and place it on the closest available surface.]
I know, I left the window open for you but I still just- instinct. At least you caught it? Otherwise, that would have been the second mug this week.
[Tim does look apologetic and pulls Peter away from the window so he can close it and the apartment can warm up again. He flaps his hands towards his bed and the laptop that's sitting on it]
So um... Peter Three, I happen to be Robin Three, except with no multiverse involved. I'm just the third person to use the Robin name. Now, using Red Robin because well, Robin got taken from me and I'm not that creative apparently.
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So people coming through your window is common? Maybe get beanbags to save your mugs.
[ Still grinning as he moves away from the window, waving away the apologies and what had happened. ]
How do you take away someone's name?
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That was impressive by the way, I'm super jealous.
I actually usually use a type of throwing knife so you're lucky it was just a mug?
[Tim cringes but Peter won't be able to tell if it's the image of him throwing a knife at Peter or the mention of his name being taken away]
Cause Robin is a sidekick to Batman. If Batman decides you're not Robin anymore, then you're not.
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[ He's seen the name Kurt come up on the network with a few others, like Laura and Logan he's learned are. And Scott and Nate but that's another story. ]
I have this thing. A tingle. It warns about danger. Including mugs... and knives!
[ He's trying to be playful about it but the rest makes him frown. ]
What the hell kind of treatment is that? You work with him and just one day nope? That's bullshit.
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Still didn't mean that him appearing in my room suddenly didn't earn him a mug to the head.
[Tim sheepishly shrugs but then crosses his arms when Peter gets angry on his behalf]
It wasn't quite like that, there were extenuating circumstances. The previous Batman was believed to be dead and everyone was in mourning. The gangs had figured it out and just, [He sags] It sucked but it's not so cut and dry and I made it sound.
The new Robin needed it at the time and I- [It had been the last thing Tim had and it was just taken from him. Somedays he wonders if letting Damian kill him would have been kinder. He shakes his head and moves over to the laptop and opens it up, bringing up a newspaper article talking about Batman and Robin capturing someone named the Penguin. There are a couple of photos of this Penguin and a night shot of two figures flying through the air, blurry and not anywhere near the grade Peter would deliver to the Bugle]
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I'll try and warn you next time, or just work to save the mugs for you.
[ He listens, head canting slightly. He's still so used to working on his own that he isn't as quick on how these teams work as others are. He's still trying to make sense of it but he can't help but ask one question. ]
What did you need?
[ He asks it softly even as he comes over to look at the article. He considers it for a moment. ]
Why can't there be more than one Robin? Or some other name to go along with bats and birds? I mean, Peter One has the Avengers and there's like a half dozen of them or something.
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[Although most of his compatriots would have been able to sneak in the window without a noise. Tim knows to listen out for that as well. It was the sudden, nothing to Peter being right there that had set him off. That's the excuse he'll tell himself anyway]
There are actually plenty of us, Batman, Batwoman, Nightwing, Robin, Red Robin, Batgirl, Black Bat, Huntress I could really go on and on. And that's just in Gotham City. It's just Batman and Robin go together and I don't know, it's just not been done before.
[Did Tim just ignore Peter's first question. Yes, very deliberately.]
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[ He can't help it. He just a had a mug thrown at him and he's teasing given the smile he's wearing. ]
Yeah, lots of practice of how to angle myself just so to get through a window. Spider skill.
[ He shrugs, looking almost sheepish, since he knows that spiders know how to glide using their web strings, but not to explain the sensation of knowing just the right angle to do it. ]
Huh. You're kind of lucky, you know. I mean, maybe not entirely but I never had anyone until recently to share all of this with, you know? Or feel comfortable sharing it with.
[ Gwen knew he was Spider-Man, but the one time he hadn't denied her being there, she died. ]
There's always been others you did this with?
[ Which is slowly starting to broach what the note had said. ]
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I thought you were aiming not to get more stuff thrown at you because I'm sure if you turn up with a boom box I'm not the one who will be throwing things. Or not the only one.
[He seems actually fine with the teasing and considering that Peter didn't get hurt he doesn't seem too worried about the mug throwing either]
Oh yeah, a lot of those people weren't around when I started. It was basically just Batman and Robin at that point, although Batgirl had been and um... moved on. [yeah he's not explaining Babs' situation to Peter]
But yeah I am lucky in that aspect. There's always been Batman and I got introduced to heroes from other cities and more people kept joining the fight in Gotham. There was the Avengers that someone mentioned once, like a group of heroes.
In my world, they're called the Justice League and Batman is one of the founding members.
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Awww. I'm heartbroken.
[ He doesn't think about how much he's becoming the man he had once been more and more while he's in this city, while he's feeling freer in this place. ]
Yeah, that's what they are in our world, according to Peter One, and he worked with them for a while. Never had anyone else in a suit on my side until I ended up in his world. It's less scary I guess than letting others in. They know what they're in for and the risks.
[ He considers that, about all that Tim hadn't told him and is now, about their teams. ]
Your world, like mine, no one knows who Robin and Batman and all of them are though. Hence just being the ceo son of a billionaire. Which, I'm just saying, must make funding your suit and equipment easy.
[ Yeah, he sews his own but it looks okay. ]
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You'll have to choose another 80's romcom in which to whoo me with. I think I'm more partial to being serenaded with a high school marching band ala Ten Things I Hate About You.
[Tim nods to the question about secret identities]
Yeah, secret identities are extremely important to Batman. Secrets in general really, even when the League was founded the other members didn't know who was underneath the cowl. They do now but it took a while.
The billionaire thing pays for more than just the suit and equipment. There are so so many gadgets, the batmobile, the batplane, all the safe houses.
[Not to mention the space station hovering up in space but he's only giving away so much right now]
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[ And now, just because, he kind of wished he thought he could find a marching band there. Just for the Hell of it. ]
I get that. A lot of people who knew mine are dead now. Or... or going through a lot worse. I don't know where Harry is now. So I get it. That's the weirdest thing here for me because everyone hears the name Peter Parker and they just know who I am and they see Spider-Man and they know who is under there.
Luuuucky. I'm pretty much me and myself and paying the bills hand to mouth basically.
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[He'd better not because Tim doesn't know if he can do poetry but it's an amusing image]
Yeah, I haven't quite to that point but I found my identity reveal on one of the old Finders. Apparently, the old me had to go through this but on a more widespread platform. It appears most who knew are gone now though.
There are still a lot of heroes like that. Huntress in my city does it on a teacher's salary which is just kind of amazing.
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I guess they figure we can't connect if we have secrets? Or trauma bonding, maybe. Whatever it is, I keep finding myself excited to be open about it... and then terrified.
[ People who knew died, or got hurt. He hates that those options come up the most. ]
If I had gotten my degree, that would probably be me. And still selling photos on the side to make it.
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[And it ended with her faking her death, coming back and hiring a hitman on him causing the burns scars that still sit on the back of his neck and head; hidden under hair currently. He now wonders how he thought it could end any differently considering its beginning]
I think they just like to stir the pot and gauge how we act under stressful situations. Or perhaps they don't like the lies. [Tim sighs with a shrug] We are 'LIERS' after all.
You wanted to go into teaching? teaching what and at what level?
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