open!

[cowled]

Characters: Bruce Wayne and open
Date: During the mis-spell event!
Location: Lots of places in Keeliai.
Situation: Bruce Wayne is an octogenarian. This ends about as well as you can expect.
Warnings/Rating: Warning for talk of heart issues, so if this bothers or triggers you lmk and I'll avoid it in any threads we do.

Comments

[bolthead]

[It's okay Bruce, because Barry is actually immensely pleased to have a grumpybat in his arms, one that he carefully deposits back on the ground now that they've reached their final exotic destination of across the street.

Grumpy is good. Grumpy means Bruce is still undeniably Bruce and that's something that's reassuring to no end, Flash fact.]

You as well, Bruce. [Said with considerably more warmth than the original statement of compatriot.] You're a lot more put together than last I saw you.

[Which, if there was ever any question about just where exactly Barry had been in the murky timeline of his life, ought to have put that question to rest.]

Heading anywhere specific?

[He'll definitely offer a ride if Bruce is.]

[cowled]

[He just hopes no one else saw that little show of-- whatever it was. Still, Bruce spends enough time being carried around by metahumans it's barely even worth mentioning anymore.]

Hn. Darkseid.

[Not even a question. Just plain fact. There's no one within hearing distance, because no matter how old he is he's still got remarkably keen senses. It's just... other things that are failing him. He resists the urge to reach up and rub at his chest, over his heart.]

I'm monitoring the city for the effects of Zatanna's spell.

[His mouth twitches. Almost a self-deprecatory smile.]

Ineffectually, I might add.

[bolthead]

[There's no surprise at Bruce's immediate deduction of the cause, just a barely perceptible nod. Barry's long gotten used to near-godlike powers of deduction.

And while he'd love nothing more than to continue poking the bear while he's (mostly) incapacitated, the situation right now is at least somewhat serious.]

Do you need any help? [And before he can be interrupted:] I promise not to carry you but I can still move faster than you can.

[And for all that he's nowhere near Bruce's level of detective, he's still got enough training under his belt to keep a mostly critical eye open.]

[cowled]

[It still feels... strange, to consider Barry as being alive to help. Bruce looks at him for a moment, expressionless, but it's not a neutrality that extends to his emotional state as well. Death never got easier, and losing men like Barry was always a blow.

There was a reason Bruce had been avoiding him until now.]

I could use your eyes.

[He admits it, grudgingly. Bruce doesn't like these newfound limitations, but while pride is something he's never lacked, he knows when and how to circumvent it for necessity's sake.]