Drift Fleet: IC Inbox

[everydayhero]

[A catch-all for privately contacting Hiro outside of posts on the network.]

Comments

[detectivewonder]

[Oh, no. No. He knows this story, knows it in his bones, has heard it a dozen times, has lived it.]

I hope...

When you found him. You left him alive?

[It comes out as three staccato, disconnected thoughts, because in his mind he's in a rooftop in Gotham, looking down at the man - the worthless, laughable man - who somehow managed to kill Jack Drake. That man was still alive, and on a bad day Tim thinks way too hard about that, and whether leaving him alive was worth it. He didn't need to. He...

He's getting better at catching when he's being self-centered, and he focused on Hiro again, waiting to hear his friend's answer.]

[everydayhero]

... Almost didn't. My friends stopped me from having him killed.

[Deeeep breath.]

When I had the chance again, I took away his power instead. [There's another pause, where he debates the merits of explaining the next part.]

Callaghan's daughter had been lost in an experiment with portal teleportation. She wasn't dead, she was inside the portal... Baymax, the robotic nurse Tadashi built, found her inside. We went in after her, and just barely got her out in time. She lived... Callaghan got to see her when the medics took her away.

[detectivewonder]

[Tim whistles, a low, impressed sound.]

There were a couple times - if I hadn't had friends around -

Did I ever talk about what I did at home?

[everydayhero]

[He shakes his head.]

No, you never told me.

[It's an invitation for him to tell more. He likes learning about Tim.]

[detectivewonder]

I think... we're kind of in the same line of work.

And I don't mean robotics or mechanical engineering.

[everydayhero]

[STARRY EYES.]

You fight crime?!

[excited whispers. Hiro, stop being a dork, you fight crime.]

obviously I went to bed and am asleep

[detectivewonder]

You don't need to whisper, we're probably monitored 24/7 by our implants.

me too we're great at this

[everydayhero]

Well yeah, but you didn't tell me right away, so I didn't think you'd want the rest of the crew to know.

[detectivewonder]

Cass and Steph showed up in costume, so I think I can safely assume my cover is blown.

[everydayhero]

... Well, that does put a damper on the whole "secret identity" thing.

[detectivewonder]

It's cool. So does a 24/7 monitor on your nervous system that can upload knowledge or alter your memories.

[everydayhero]

That is... very true. [Hiro rubs the back of his neck.]

So what did you go by in your world?

[detectivewonder]

Robin.

[everydayhero]

... Robin? Really? Like the small, unassuming bird?

[detectivewonder]

It was part of my job to be bright and distracting. I was the junior partner in the team.

[everydayhero]

Oh, you were the sidekick.

[Might be teasing. Definitely teasing.]

[detectivewonder]

... At first, maybe.

[everydayhero]

How long did it take you to rank up? Or is that a work in progress?

[detectivewonder]

Not that I need to defend myself on the subject, but I've had jurisdiction over a city of my own for the better part of a year. And -

[He pauses. He can't go into the rest without going back to... death, as a subject.]

Let's just say it's complicated.

[everydayhero]

[holding a hand up]

Say no more. You've got a dark, mysterious past, and I haven't unlocked it yet.

[detectivewonder]

... I think what bothers me most about that statement is that it's actually true.

[everydayhero]

[congratulations, tim, you have made him laugh.]

Could you be any more cliche?

[detectivewonder]

Believe me: yes.

[everydayhero]

[Little more laughter, shaking his head.]

Hey... Thanks, Tim. I really appreciate this.

[detectivewonder]

Hey. After last month, you're the Chewie to my Han. I've got your back.