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i'll . . . do my best?
[ why do people think he can do discreet. ]
[ why do people think he can do discreet. ]
( bruce isn't going to reply to that since he needs to suit up and get in the batmobile. don't text and drive, etc. but whenever kyle makes his way to their first meeting, he'll be there on the rooftop. in the shadows. as probably expected. batmobile hidden from sight within the shadows much like him. )
[ green lantern descends from above, looking somber. ]
Hey.
Hey.
[ kyle let out a quiet breath. ]
Jason got caught investigating. He's fine.
Jason got caught investigating. He's fine.
Arcadia.
I'm sure his friends are on it, but — [ kyle bites it off, annoyed. he's useful. powerful. if kyle really wanted, he could tear a world apart.
he doesn't want to do that. he doesn't know what to do. he just knows, just knows he can't afford to be . . . to be late. one second, one minute late.
the flip of a coin. ]
I'm sure his friends are on it, but — [ kyle bites it off, annoyed. he's useful. powerful. if kyle really wanted, he could tear a world apart.
he doesn't want to do that. he doesn't know what to do. he just knows, just knows he can't afford to be . . . to be late. one second, one minute late.
the flip of a coin. ]
I've been asked to. And I would have done it even without being asked.
[ he's not hesitating as much as taking stock. he's not the reckless green lantern he used to be. ]
But I guess . . . I'm looking for a second opinion. To get my head straight.
[ he's not hesitating as much as taking stock. he's not the reckless green lantern he used to be. ]
But I guess . . . I'm looking for a second opinion. To get my head straight.
( a second opinion.
there's something here bruce is missing - some key part to the hesitation in going. he knows, based off what kyle said in their previous conversation, that he looks to help others.
rather than pry, he stands there with him. silent. waiting. figuring kyle might need a second or two to further expand on his needing a second opinion. )
there's something here bruce is missing - some key part to the hesitation in going. he knows, based off what kyle said in their previous conversation, that he looks to help others.
rather than pry, he stands there with him. silent. waiting. figuring kyle might need a second or two to further expand on his needing a second opinion. )
[ kyle crosses his arms for a moment, looking away. ]
My girlfriend died. Not long after I got here. I got there but I was too late and she was gone.
[ always too late. too late for alex. too late for donna. too late for jenny. always too late. and it had nothing to do with kyle's power or his job or anything. it's just. how it was. ]
My girlfriend died. Not long after I got here. I got there but I was too late and she was gone.
[ always too late. too late for alex. too late for donna. too late for jenny. always too late. and it had nothing to do with kyle's power or his job or anything. it's just. how it was. ]
[ kyle nods, accepting that in the spirit it is given. ]
If something happens, I . . . [ will what? kyle won't lose it. his trauma isn't a marker, a trigger for his worst impulses. he's always faced his trauma head on before moving on.
but he's moved too far. if he lets go now, he won't be kyle rayner. he may not even be green lantern. it'll be ion, a god. transient as starlight. immutable, untouchable.
he shakes his head, glancing at bruce. ]
You've never held back. What do you think?
If something happens, I . . . [ will what? kyle won't lose it. his trauma isn't a marker, a trigger for his worst impulses. he's always faced his trauma head on before moving on.
but he's moved too far. if he lets go now, he won't be kyle rayner. he may not even be green lantern. it'll be ion, a god. transient as starlight. immutable, untouchable.
he shakes his head, glancing at bruce. ]
You've never held back. What do you think?
( this is a strange conversation to have given the things happening back in gotham for him - the things that had happened prior to his finding himself here, but. kyle's a good person. he's already picked that up from their last encounter with each other and good people, especially in gotham, seem to be hard to come by these days. or so it feels like it. )
I think you're letting your fear of going through that again get in the way.
( he looks up to kyle when he says that. )
You need to go get him. He'd do the same for you.
I think you're letting your fear of going through that again get in the way.
( he looks up to kyle when he says that. )
You need to go get him. He'd do the same for you.
[ yeah. not that it was in any doubt, but kyle would feel worse if he didn't go. and bruce doesn't pull back punches. he nods. ]
Guess it's as good a time as any to go all out.
Guess it's as good a time as any to go all out.
( he can still see the but of hesitation there in kyle, and so he reaches into one of the pockets there on his utility belt, pulling a small case out. inside it, a tracker. of sorts. )
Here.
( holding it out to him. )
Things get bad or too much for you to handle, press this. I'll come get you.
( he's not meaning necessarily in a fight. he means more if kyle can't deal with whatever might happen after it. )
Here.
( holding it out to him. )
Things get bad or too much for you to handle, press this. I'll come get you.
( he's not meaning necessarily in a fight. he means more if kyle can't deal with whatever might happen after it. )
[ kyle takes it gratefully. ]
Thanks.
It is . . . really good you're here, Batman.
[ because he can trust bruce to see the big picture. to do what's right. kyle no longer has a big picture framework. it's only the people sees that he wants to help. so even if it went against kyle, he'd still trust it. ]
Thanks.
It is . . . really good you're here, Batman.
[ because he can trust bruce to see the big picture. to do what's right. kyle no longer has a big picture framework. it's only the people sees that he wants to help. so even if it went against kyle, he'd still trust it. ]
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