batfakes | (no subject)

[ Under normal circumstances, Terry would have told Bruce what he was up to before patrol tonight. There were enough secrets between them and he wanted to be the example of up front honesty he sometimes thinks is lacking in their working relationship. But. These aren't normal circumstances, considering Terry's not really supposed to know about Jason. He's one of Bruce's (many) well kept secrets. So in order to be honest about it, Terry would have to admit he's been snooping into parts of the computer he wasn't supposed to access.

So secrecy it is and Terry justifies it by telling himself Bruce's got plenty of things to hide. It's not such a bad thing to want to keep something to himself for a change.

He arrives soon after Jason's last message comes through, dressed perfectly for a night of sparring. There's a polite knock and when the door opens, Terry's leaning against a railing, smiling at his host, backpack dangling carelessly from one shoulder. ]

Aren't you going to invite me in?

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( Keeping things from Bruce is Jason's specialty. He doesn't know all the details about what the deal is with Terry and Bruce, but he has his suspicions. Bruce might insist he works best alone, doesn't need anyone else, but they all know it's bullshit by now. And add in the fact that he's got something going on with some kid who can't even grab a beer yet? Terry might as well be a neon sign saying he's a member of their dysfunctional little family that Bruce hasn't told anyone else about.

He's not sure how he feels about it or what to even make of Terry, but he's a good kid. Jason'll give him that much. Definitely fits the bill for what Bruce is actually looking for in a partner or ally compared to someone like, well, him. Whatever is actually going on, though, Jason hasn't asked, but knowing he has ammo to shoot at Bruce whenever they inevitably buttheads again is all he really needs (besides making sure Terry doesn't get into something that he might not be able to get himself out of, anyway).

As far as where Jason lives these days, he's keeping his head down and laying low at Ma Gunns' place. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job down. It being equipped for things like training kids to hold their own is just a bonus at a time like this.

When he opens the door, he's not wearing as mask or any of his usual gear beyond the holster fixed at his hip - dressed for some physical activity. He takes a moment to look him over, wondering briefly if Bruce has stuck some kind of tracker on the kid before he finally steps aside and nods his head towards the inside in invitation. )

I thought about leaving you out there. You'd make a nice lawn ornament.

( He offers a small grin before closing the door behind them, slotting a few different locks into place. )

Straight ahead and down the stairs. Mats are downstairs.

[ It wasn't that hard to adjust to life in the past. It's the lack of automation that gets him the most often. Sometimes he forgets and he talks to the coffee maker for a couple of minutes before he realizes he's gotta press the buttons to get it to work. But, it's otherwise been okay.

What he did have a hard time adjusting to was living with Bruce. Back home, they spent a lot of time together, but he'd always had his own space to go back to when he needed a break. He had his own bed to sleep in and friends and a social life. Barely, but that wasn't the point. It existed outside of Terry being Batman and it made the unbearable parts about Bruce feel a little less unbearable.

Now, it's just in his face all the time because Bruce didn't want anyone else knowing he existed, especially none of the other Bats. He said it was because he didn't want to mess with the timeline, but deep down, Terry thinks its because he's not entirely comfortable with the idea that he has to stop being Batman at some point. He knows its inevitable, but Terry's kind of an embodiment of his own mortality.

It's a lot and stay locked up in the manor most of the time makes him stir crazy. Which is why he's glad he decided reaching out to Jason was a good idea. Maybe not a smart one, considering the animosity he's got toward Bruce. But better than sitting on his ass all day.

He grins at Jason, adjusts the backpack, and slips inside so Jason can shut the door. ]

What'll the neighbors think?

[ He takes the stairs and sets his backpack down in a corner of the room and takes a minute to stretch. Despite the bravado, he does kind expect Jason to knock him on his ass at least once. He's at least gotta make him work for it. ]

Alright, old man. Let's see what you got.