tushanshu_logs | It's Christmas!

[That gets the closest thing to actual amusement that ever appears on Bruce's face, the slight upward lift of an eyebrow and a crinkle at the corners of his eyes.]

Having never mastered speaking to crabs, I'll have to take your word for it.

[Skills that Batman has never found applicable in his day-to-day life? That. But the mention of Atlantean life does raise another question.]

How is Kaldur doing?

Edited (wow excuse you html) 2014-01-14 03:02 (UTC)

[Crabs have seen some things, bro. Crabs have seen some things.]

Kaldur's doing well. His training is coming along as much as it can without Mera or some Atlantean sorcery texts here. How's your bunch? [He has no idea how many are still around or have ever been around, lbr. He can't keep track of them all when they hide their identities and stuff.]

[His expression tightens briefly, and he takes another drink of his beer.]

Tim returned home five days ago. Dick - both the one your ward knows and the one from our universe - is doing well enough.

[He doesn't mention Jason. He can't. Both for his own reasons, and because Arthur's sons stay dead.]

Damian is the custodian to a turtle, same as you. Caring for another life is... new, to him.

I'm sorry about Tim. [And he is, it's hard to lose a family member like this. He'll probably never be over having Mera disappear.] I'm glad to hear about both Dicks, though. The one from our world was a good friend to my son and Kaldur cares a lot about his teammates.

...I see. I'm not sure why some of them have seemed drawn to children as caretakers. When Raven left, Rio'era called out to a young boy.

[Bruce cants his head, accepting the sentiment without fully acknowledging it. Because they are Manly Men and feelings are Difficult, or something. He draws a thumb over the curling label of his bottle, trying to smooth it back down.]

It's possible that they seek a particular balance of personalities, coded to their own specific needs or preferences. The sample pool isn't sufficient to make more than a few educated guesses, but I doubt it's a random selection.

That's possible. It could just be based on their personalities, they all seem... unique. The ones I've seen around. [Because of course Arthur stops to talk if he sees a turtle ambling around.]

Yet another thing we have no answers for. [He just sighs quietly and tips his beer as if in a sarcastic toast to the fact.]

Have you asked them?

[It's actually a genuine question, and oddly enough one Bruce hadn't considered until this very moment. He doesn't necessarily trust the turtles as an unbiased source of information, but Arthur may be better equipped to elicit a truthful response from them than anyone else Bruce knows. If the reason for and the nature of their 'bond' could be determined, it may prove useful to keeping not only them but also Asti safe.]

No, I haven't. [He hadn't really thought about it, not yet, but, well... The more he considers it, the more it doesn't seem feasible right now, but maybe.] They're essentially small children, they're learning everything from the ground up and everything is still very new to them right now, including words. [A thoughtful pause as he takes another sip of his beer, glancing toward the kitchen window as if it has the answers.] Maybe in a while when they're better equipped to answer questions...

They are learning at an incredible pace. I would have expected something with this lifespan to have a slower developmental period, but although they are still essentially children, I know they've been learning advanced quantum physics, among other concepts that humans don't traditionally grasp until they're out of their adolescence.

[Bruce tips the beer to one side, a fleeting shrug.]

I trust you'll know when they're ready to answer.

[And it is trust, of a sort. Bruce frowns a little, and takes another drink.]

They are, but even then, it's a complicated and loaded question. Emotions can be harder to express than mathematics. [Just take a look at yourself, Bruce.] I will try to bring it up when I think Rio'era can answer. I don't imagine it'll take long, but a few days to a week to get her bearings in the world I think will help.

[He gets the trust, and he appreciates it. This is definitely what he would consider his own strong area. Arthur takes another sip of his beer, glancing toward the window again like a reflex.] She's so affectionate and smart, and so curious about everything. It's hard to believe that anything could possibly go wrong.

[And that's a small show of his own trust, such that it is, admitting that about himself. Maybe it's weakness, maybe it means he'll be compromised, but at least it won't catch anyone unawares.]

[Bruce raises an eyebrow at the admission, and doesn't reply right away. Those that know him, Kal expected, prefer not to admit weakness, because they know all too well what he's willing to do with them. Almost, he's faintly surprised. And it occurs to him that despite the fact that he could put together a complete psychological profile on Arthur, anticipate his moves in combat, and perhaps even manipulate him into positions he might otherwise resist, he doesn't actually know him at all.

He has so many colleagues, but few of them are anything he'd call friend, and Arthur may as well have just slapped him in the face with the resultant epiphany.

Batman, by nature, doesn't cultivate friendships. Some have been foisted on him in his time, namely by Kal and Diana, but he never approaches them willingly. And Bruce...

He thinks about Thomas Elliot. Hush, as he's known now. No, even Bruce Wayne doesn't fare too well in that arena. Public, private. Old ghosts are always at the edges of his perceptions, and grief defines him. But he's chosen light and hope before. Perhaps this is one more venue where it's needed.]

Are you sure you should be telling me that?

[His tone is curiously devoid of anything, the statement effectively neutered of all sentiment.]

[Arthur's answer is honest and straightforward, accompanied by a slight shrug.] No, I'm not. But sometimes progress doesn't come without someone making a leap of faith.

[Maybe it's the season, maybe it's the fact that today was one of the best he's had since Mera disappeared in October, maybe it's even the fact that without her, he feels more alone, more isolated. Maybe some part of him is tired of being an outsider with the League or that the frustration of his team not doing all they can to work together on this is getting to him. Whatever the reason, he's not entirely sure of it himself, but there's a truth to his statement; he and Bruce will never move on as coworkers and friends if they don't try to change. Their constant alpha male standoff has them stagnating, standing on the precipice, and maybe Arthur feels like he should at least try to change that the way things changed with Clark here.

Bruce has never really been one for change, but Arthur knows the value of adapting to the currents of life. He's leapt over the edge, and it's time to see if Bruce will follow, will show Arthur that he can be trusted. If not, they can continue to stagnate, but at least they can say they tried.]

Merry Christmas. [And with that, he tips his beer as if in a toast.]

[His silence is a calculating one, but it's tinged with a different flavour than his usual grim suspicion. It's the silence of a man who is examining the various facets of his life in an entirely new light, and perhaps even finding them wanting. He inhales enough to feel his breath catch on a rib, lately cracked, and then he glances away.

Batman has always been characterized by being someone who does what's necessary, no matter the personal cost. But time, experience and family has taught him that it's not the only way to live. In fact, it's not living at all. He's spent more of his career than anyone should simply waiting to die - not looking for it, per se - but expecting it at every turn, around every corner, at the bottom of every dark pit and in the culmination of every tough fight. But for the past two years, he's gone over the public speech in his head, the one he'll give to the public when he announces Batman to the world. Perhaps it's time, also, for this.

He goes from being perfectly still to motion with no transition or outward indication he'd planned to move, and he reaches over, knocks his bottle against Arthur's.]

And a Happy New Year.

It's Christmas!

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