boy wonder. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
staystraught) wrote2012-07-02 10:48 pm
staystraught) wrote2012-07-02 10:48 pm
dream draft-- Dick and Wally
There was a soft crackle-snap in the radio ear pieces, and The Flash's voice came over quickly, "Who's dead?"
"No one who wasn't dead a minute ago," eleven-year-old Robin said impatiently, "Which is still five minutes after you were supposed to be here."
Flash laughed. "Keep your capes on, we'll be there in a flash."
Batman rolled his eyes at the pun, and Robin shot him a look of profound disbelief. He considered saying something about it, something like tell me I never slowed you down like this, but Batman was the sort of person who ignored hyperbole when it suited him and would likely counter with a very long, very minute list of every time that could even be misconstrued as Robin slowing him down.
And then tell him he needed to learn humility.
Flash and his new sidekick were a grand total of nine minutes late; the last few passed in silence for the dynamic duo and were, indeed, over in a veritable flash. A streak of red stopped politely on a dime, right next to Batman, and after a two second delay, the second streak, a little red and yellow thing that did not stop on a dime, skittered into the Robin's line of vision.
Emphasis on the not stopping part. The fact that it yelped a bit when it seemed to realize its deficiency was clue enough even if you haven't been mentored by Batman for two whole years and Robin sprung upward just in time, catching himself on a low-hanging tree branch and swinging around to perch on it.
In perfect time and at perfect vantage to see the so-called Kid Flash plow straight into a stone wall.
Well, almost; Flash got a bit of a clue and managed to prevent the actual impact, but Kid Flash still flopped backwards with a mingled awkward exclamation of relief and embarrassment, and just high-pitched enough that it made Robin laugh.
The other three there all looked up at him, and he valiantly tried to suppress his giggles, but Kid Flash just looked so lame lying there on the ground. What did he think he was going to do, trip people?
But this was how he liked it, all attention on him, and he somersaulted down -- tight and precise, just as his mother taught him -- landing in a neat crouch and waiting a single, loaded beat.
"Maaaaybe you shouldn't have taken off his training wheels just yet."
Directed at Flash, over his head, just for maximum levels of dismissal.
The Scarlet Speedster offered a tired "Be nice, Robin," but Kid Flash sat up a little too quickly, wincing a little, at the remark.
"Dude, seriously?"
"That's what I want to--"
As if he hadn't even heard Robin, Kid Flash continued, "I always thought you'd be taller! You know, Speedy's like sixteen. You're just a--"
Robin lifted a brow.
"--person. Who thinks I should shut up. Right."
"Best idea you've had all year," Robin said dryly. The barb seemed to hit, because Kid Flash frowned, and Robin's smile might not have been quite so malicious if it wasn't for the "taller" remark. He knew Speedy was sixteen, and while Speedy was cool and smart and had perfect aim, he also got to do lots of things Robin didn't, and the whole "being younger than everyone else" was something of a sore spot, depending on context. Hitting that in addition to almost hitting him, and Kid Flash was striking out all over the place.
"Be nice," said Flash again, just as Batman's hand came down on top of Robin's head. A glance upward showed no real expression on Bats' face, and he didn't say anything. Not quite a rebuke, Robin decided, but a definite 'cease-and-desist.' Probably Batman sympathized with him a little bit.
"Anyway. You wanted a second opinion?" Flash asked. Batman nodded.
"I think I know who actually is the killer, but that's the problem. This is your area of science," which drew Kid Flash's attention out of his little corner of despondency, "and I'm as susceptible to confirmation bias as anyone else."
"Right-o. So we'll get on that, and you won't tell me any details."
He paused. Hesitated, really, and with the certainty of someone who'd heard a lot of bad news in his life, Robin recognized it.
"I think the boys should stay here," Flash continued, shooting an adult look at Batman.
"What?" That was enough to get KF back into a standing position. "But we came all this way...!"
"I agree that would be best," said Batman. And while Robin didn't protest vocally, in an effort to look more mature and experienced than Kid Flash, the sheer depths of disappointment and betrayal on his face was enough that he got another pat on the head.
"That means stay put," he added.
"But I never stay put."
So much for sounding more mature.
"Try just this once."
"Besides, we... uh." Flash was clearly struggling for a way to make this sound like he wasn't disparaging them.
"Consider yourself a lookout," Batman said. He quickly amended, with a glance at Kid Flash, "Lookouts."
And that was that; Batman ziplined to the roof and Flash vibrated through the wall with another promise of being 'back in a flash.'
Robin permitted himself to remain silent and still, mostly as a punishment to Kid Flash, who looked like he couldn't stop moving.
But he did, after a while, get his binoculars out. Even if it was a brush-off, Batman wouldn't tolerate a failure.
He wasn't Flash or anything.
But they were barely in front of his eyes before the yellow and red -- even stole my color scheme, but I guess Speedy did it first -- zipped in next to him and said "Good idea."
The goggles on his head were pushed down. "They're telescopic," he added, almost as if he wanted to brag but expected Robin to put him down again.
Not inaccurate. Staying behind to babysit the rookie wasn't sitting well with him.
"Maybe point them in a different direction so no one can sneak up on us."
"Uh, right."
Uh, duh. Robin rolled his eyes.
"'Nepotism' comes from a word meaning 'nephew,' you know that, right?"
"Dude." First visible sign of annoyance now. "Are you attacking them or are you attacking me?"
"Well, since I can't--"
And that was when a loud bang and a plume of smoke emanated from the other side of the building. Robin had weapons out purely on instinct, but Kid Flash was still rather entranced, and didn't quite shake out of it until he perceived Robin was approaching the wall.
Give him points for a spine. "Didn't Bats say to stay put?"
"Didn't the place just blow up?
"...Fair point. But what if Batman and the Flash blow up? Y'know. At us?"
"I dunno, what if they already did?" And he sort of regretted that, because what little of KF's face was visible whitened just enough.
"Even fairer." Give him points for determination, too. He grit his teeth and made sure his goggles were on securely. He placed both hands against the wall, and having watched Flash do it a moment earlier--
"You know, I can just--"
"It's okay! I can do this!" And he definitely started to move in place, back and forth, much faster than Robin could. But his hands remained firmly on the wall, not in it, and while he was clearly struggling to go faster, it looked like he was topping out. Which was weird; he'd seen Flash go much much muchmuchmuch faster. He was starting to kick up dust now, and Robin had to pull his cape over his mouth and nose to keep from breathing it in, but he persisted, that was something, and there were brighter flashes of red, but--
But it was liquid, not cloth from the costume.
"I really don't know what's more lame," Robin muttered, fishing in his utility belt for a styptic pencil. "Failing when you're doing something spectacular or failing when you're not."
"Oh shut up."
He was still trying to stop the nosebleed when Robin, who'd ziplined to the rooftop easily and blood-free, put down a line to drag him up. And remained silent and preoccupied with that as Robin broke through an air vent and led them over towards where the explosion came from.
"Probably an IED," Kid Flash said suddenly. "Place looks too low rent for the fancy stuff."
"Uh-huh." Robin was poised at an opening. "Must be the right place. That looks like sunlight coming in."
"Kind of expecting you to do the 'stay put' routine on me," he said ruefully, finally bringing his hands down from his face and sliding his goggles back down. "Going to try looking on infrared now."
"Incredibly provoked," Robin answered. "But that's actually a good idea."
Robin settled back, allowing Kid Flash to get a better look through. He had a thoughtful twist to his expression, and that was something.
"I think there's six people down there," he said, with a slight absent-minded professor tone. "No sign of Batman or Flash," but we don't know what they got up to."
Not reassuring.
"One's looking for something. He's like right under us, so I think we shouldn't quite go down yet. I need a little space for traction and you probably need a little range."
"Not always, but okay," Robin allowed. "What do you think he's looking for?"
"Something you keep in your pocket," was the answer. "Wait, I think he's got it out, and--"
Kid Flash's face blanched, horribly, and before Robin could blink, he'd dropped directly onto the guy below the vent and knocked him out cold. A cell phone clattered onto the floor and skidded a few feet awat.
"Thanks for the warning!"
Robin dropped down into the melee right before Kid Flash launched himself into a guy's stomach. He was promptly slammed into the wall and decided to stay there.
The guys who hadn't known what to make of the new kid -- he heard someone mumble Speedy and that was just the cherry on the sundae, 'cause KF heard it, too -- but they all recognized Robin. Still, no one expects two kids to drop out of air vents at once, and there was just enough gape-mouthed surprise that Robin could fling a birdarang at one and kick another in the head.
"Five of out of six," Kid Flash called, hurtling into another one. He'd spent the time Robin was taking out his guys arranging them into a neat little pile by the cell phone.
"I guess that means you're going to tell us what's going on," Robin said imperiously, and trying desperately not to start laughing again.
Six looked from one boy to the other, before diving towards Kid Flash's little pile.
It was, again, over in a flash. KF intercepted and spiked him down. A quick knock-out blow for good measure, however put Robin right back on the attack.
"Didn't I just say we needed to question him?"
"Uh, didn't you just see him reaching for the cell phone?"
"So what? He calls a few reinforcements--"
"Dude, the bomb! What did you think that cell phone was for?"
Not that he'd had all that much experience with bombs before (Batman preferred to take care of those himself), but a few half-remembered lessons slipped back into his mind. Something about cell phones and range and--
Kid Flash was grinning.
"Oh, I'm sorry, should I have waited another five minutes for you to figure it out?"
"Shut up."
"Hey, maybe that's why they call you 'Boy Wonder!' 'Cause that's what you're stuck doing."
He would have laughed at that one, just because he'd never heard that pun before, but another crackle-snap on the radio and they were actually being called to fight...
"No one who wasn't dead a minute ago," eleven-year-old Robin said impatiently, "Which is still five minutes after you were supposed to be here."
Flash laughed. "Keep your capes on, we'll be there in a flash."
Batman rolled his eyes at the pun, and Robin shot him a look of profound disbelief. He considered saying something about it, something like tell me I never slowed you down like this, but Batman was the sort of person who ignored hyperbole when it suited him and would likely counter with a very long, very minute list of every time that could even be misconstrued as Robin slowing him down.
And then tell him he needed to learn humility.
Flash and his new sidekick were a grand total of nine minutes late; the last few passed in silence for the dynamic duo and were, indeed, over in a veritable flash. A streak of red stopped politely on a dime, right next to Batman, and after a two second delay, the second streak, a little red and yellow thing that did not stop on a dime, skittered into the Robin's line of vision.
Emphasis on the not stopping part. The fact that it yelped a bit when it seemed to realize its deficiency was clue enough even if you haven't been mentored by Batman for two whole years and Robin sprung upward just in time, catching himself on a low-hanging tree branch and swinging around to perch on it.
In perfect time and at perfect vantage to see the so-called Kid Flash plow straight into a stone wall.
Well, almost; Flash got a bit of a clue and managed to prevent the actual impact, but Kid Flash still flopped backwards with a mingled awkward exclamation of relief and embarrassment, and just high-pitched enough that it made Robin laugh.
The other three there all looked up at him, and he valiantly tried to suppress his giggles, but Kid Flash just looked so lame lying there on the ground. What did he think he was going to do, trip people?
But this was how he liked it, all attention on him, and he somersaulted down -- tight and precise, just as his mother taught him -- landing in a neat crouch and waiting a single, loaded beat.
"Maaaaybe you shouldn't have taken off his training wheels just yet."
Directed at Flash, over his head, just for maximum levels of dismissal.
The Scarlet Speedster offered a tired "Be nice, Robin," but Kid Flash sat up a little too quickly, wincing a little, at the remark.
"Dude, seriously?"
"That's what I want to--"
As if he hadn't even heard Robin, Kid Flash continued, "I always thought you'd be taller! You know, Speedy's like sixteen. You're just a--"
Robin lifted a brow.
"--person. Who thinks I should shut up. Right."
"Best idea you've had all year," Robin said dryly. The barb seemed to hit, because Kid Flash frowned, and Robin's smile might not have been quite so malicious if it wasn't for the "taller" remark. He knew Speedy was sixteen, and while Speedy was cool and smart and had perfect aim, he also got to do lots of things Robin didn't, and the whole "being younger than everyone else" was something of a sore spot, depending on context. Hitting that in addition to almost hitting him, and Kid Flash was striking out all over the place.
"Be nice," said Flash again, just as Batman's hand came down on top of Robin's head. A glance upward showed no real expression on Bats' face, and he didn't say anything. Not quite a rebuke, Robin decided, but a definite 'cease-and-desist.' Probably Batman sympathized with him a little bit.
"Anyway. You wanted a second opinion?" Flash asked. Batman nodded.
"I think I know who actually is the killer, but that's the problem. This is your area of science," which drew Kid Flash's attention out of his little corner of despondency, "and I'm as susceptible to confirmation bias as anyone else."
"Right-o. So we'll get on that, and you won't tell me any details."
He paused. Hesitated, really, and with the certainty of someone who'd heard a lot of bad news in his life, Robin recognized it.
"I think the boys should stay here," Flash continued, shooting an adult look at Batman.
"What?" That was enough to get KF back into a standing position. "But we came all this way...!"
"I agree that would be best," said Batman. And while Robin didn't protest vocally, in an effort to look more mature and experienced than Kid Flash, the sheer depths of disappointment and betrayal on his face was enough that he got another pat on the head.
"That means stay put," he added.
"But I never stay put."
So much for sounding more mature.
"Try just this once."
"Besides, we... uh." Flash was clearly struggling for a way to make this sound like he wasn't disparaging them.
"Consider yourself a lookout," Batman said. He quickly amended, with a glance at Kid Flash, "Lookouts."
And that was that; Batman ziplined to the roof and Flash vibrated through the wall with another promise of being 'back in a flash.'
Robin permitted himself to remain silent and still, mostly as a punishment to Kid Flash, who looked like he couldn't stop moving.
But he did, after a while, get his binoculars out. Even if it was a brush-off, Batman wouldn't tolerate a failure.
He wasn't Flash or anything.
But they were barely in front of his eyes before the yellow and red -- even stole my color scheme, but I guess Speedy did it first -- zipped in next to him and said "Good idea."
The goggles on his head were pushed down. "They're telescopic," he added, almost as if he wanted to brag but expected Robin to put him down again.
Not inaccurate. Staying behind to babysit the rookie wasn't sitting well with him.
"Maybe point them in a different direction so no one can sneak up on us."
"Uh, right."
Uh, duh. Robin rolled his eyes.
"'Nepotism' comes from a word meaning 'nephew,' you know that, right?"
"Dude." First visible sign of annoyance now. "Are you attacking them or are you attacking me?"
"Well, since I can't--"
And that was when a loud bang and a plume of smoke emanated from the other side of the building. Robin had weapons out purely on instinct, but Kid Flash was still rather entranced, and didn't quite shake out of it until he perceived Robin was approaching the wall.
Give him points for a spine. "Didn't Bats say to stay put?"
"Didn't the place just blow up?
"...Fair point. But what if Batman and the Flash blow up? Y'know. At us?"
"I dunno, what if they already did?" And he sort of regretted that, because what little of KF's face was visible whitened just enough.
"Even fairer." Give him points for determination, too. He grit his teeth and made sure his goggles were on securely. He placed both hands against the wall, and having watched Flash do it a moment earlier--
"You know, I can just--"
"It's okay! I can do this!" And he definitely started to move in place, back and forth, much faster than Robin could. But his hands remained firmly on the wall, not in it, and while he was clearly struggling to go faster, it looked like he was topping out. Which was weird; he'd seen Flash go much much muchmuchmuch faster. He was starting to kick up dust now, and Robin had to pull his cape over his mouth and nose to keep from breathing it in, but he persisted, that was something, and there were brighter flashes of red, but--
But it was liquid, not cloth from the costume.
"I really don't know what's more lame," Robin muttered, fishing in his utility belt for a styptic pencil. "Failing when you're doing something spectacular or failing when you're not."
"Oh shut up."
He was still trying to stop the nosebleed when Robin, who'd ziplined to the rooftop easily and blood-free, put down a line to drag him up. And remained silent and preoccupied with that as Robin broke through an air vent and led them over towards where the explosion came from.
"Probably an IED," Kid Flash said suddenly. "Place looks too low rent for the fancy stuff."
"Uh-huh." Robin was poised at an opening. "Must be the right place. That looks like sunlight coming in."
"Kind of expecting you to do the 'stay put' routine on me," he said ruefully, finally bringing his hands down from his face and sliding his goggles back down. "Going to try looking on infrared now."
"Incredibly provoked," Robin answered. "But that's actually a good idea."
Robin settled back, allowing Kid Flash to get a better look through. He had a thoughtful twist to his expression, and that was something.
"I think there's six people down there," he said, with a slight absent-minded professor tone. "No sign of Batman or Flash," but we don't know what they got up to."
Not reassuring.
"One's looking for something. He's like right under us, so I think we shouldn't quite go down yet. I need a little space for traction and you probably need a little range."
"Not always, but okay," Robin allowed. "What do you think he's looking for?"
"Something you keep in your pocket," was the answer. "Wait, I think he's got it out, and--"
Kid Flash's face blanched, horribly, and before Robin could blink, he'd dropped directly onto the guy below the vent and knocked him out cold. A cell phone clattered onto the floor and skidded a few feet awat.
"Thanks for the warning!"
Robin dropped down into the melee right before Kid Flash launched himself into a guy's stomach. He was promptly slammed into the wall and decided to stay there.
The guys who hadn't known what to make of the new kid -- he heard someone mumble Speedy and that was just the cherry on the sundae, 'cause KF heard it, too -- but they all recognized Robin. Still, no one expects two kids to drop out of air vents at once, and there was just enough gape-mouthed surprise that Robin could fling a birdarang at one and kick another in the head.
"Five of out of six," Kid Flash called, hurtling into another one. He'd spent the time Robin was taking out his guys arranging them into a neat little pile by the cell phone.
"I guess that means you're going to tell us what's going on," Robin said imperiously, and trying desperately not to start laughing again.
Six looked from one boy to the other, before diving towards Kid Flash's little pile.
It was, again, over in a flash. KF intercepted and spiked him down. A quick knock-out blow for good measure, however put Robin right back on the attack.
"Didn't I just say we needed to question him?"
"Uh, didn't you just see him reaching for the cell phone?"
"So what? He calls a few reinforcements--"
"Dude, the bomb! What did you think that cell phone was for?"
Not that he'd had all that much experience with bombs before (Batman preferred to take care of those himself), but a few half-remembered lessons slipped back into his mind. Something about cell phones and range and--
Kid Flash was grinning.
"Oh, I'm sorry, should I have waited another five minutes for you to figure it out?"
"Shut up."
"Hey, maybe that's why they call you 'Boy Wonder!' 'Cause that's what you're stuck doing."
He would have laughed at that one, just because he'd never heard that pun before, but another crackle-snap on the radio and they were actually being called to fight...