IC Contact

[chiroptophobic]

[ There's no voice, no response, just a different change in the quality of the sound to indicate that a message is being recorded. ]

Comments

Voice

[dontforgetpie]

[Dean doesn't even realize he'd been holding his breath until Bruce starts talking and he lets it out. The reprimand that he'd been half expecting doesn't come and he's not really sure what to do with that. Obviously, he'd rather not get a lecture, but, well.

Bruce had said he'd done the right thing. That gives Dean more confidence to speak out, voice his own opinions without as much fear of being shut down again.]

I understand.

[And this is where it gets more complicated, because Dean runs the risk of being shut down and shut out. Of being given some other task to do because Bruce thinks that he's not ready for this. That and the last thing he wants bruce to think is that Dean thinks he can't handle this on his own. He can. Dean knows he can. He's the Goddamn Batman after all. But Dean wants to be involved. Wants his approval enough to be involved. And with Sylar having disappeared down the proverbial rabbit hole for the time being, this gives him something to do that's productive. Something that could save people.]

And I can help. [It's not a direct answer, but Bruce's question hadn't been a direct order either.]

Re: Voice

[chiroptophobic]

[ It wasn't that he was totally against help, it was really--well, it was two things: he'd set out to do this alone, and Crane was one of his problems. Jonathan Crane - particularly this one - was from Gotham, and Bruce felt responsible for him. If Crane did terrible things, then it was Bruce who had allowed it to happen. If Bruce allowed Dean to help, and he was found out by Crane, or otherwise hurt, then that would be his responsibility too. And Bruce wasn't stupid, he'd read the journals. He knew what sort of personality Dean was, what he needed. Without direction he seemed to struggle, but could Bruce give him that direction? Was it his responsibility?

Dean could look after himself. He had an advantage others didn't. He knew what he was getting into, and he was a warrior, trained for years the same as Bruce had been. Okay, so he wasn't Batman, but he was capable of taking on Crane. ]

Do you think you can handle it? Crane isn't a monster, you can't stake him or set him on fire, no matter how much you're tempted to.

Voice

[dontforgetpie]

I know. [The answer is almost too fast, but Dean doesn't want to give Bruce the chance to change his mind. Because this? The chance to work with or for Batman - whichever - isn't an opportunity that he can pass up. And if he can prove himself, maybe he can help do some good here.

I wouldn't be the same as hunting, but he'd still be helping out. Saving people. This was something he could do.]

I know I can't kill him. This isn't the first time I've tangled with humans.

[And at least he knew that Scarecrow wasn't going to hunt him down so he could kill him and eat him. Not that Crane couldn't do some damage, but. Dean could handle it. Or at least that's what he told himself.]

But we already talked about that. [With Sylar.]

Voice

[chiroptophobic]

[ He'll inevitably change his mind when someone else gets hurt. After Harvey it's a wonder he's prepared to put his faith in anyone at all. Eight years of sulking would be ore appropriate really. ]

Yes, we already talked about that. Take care, don't be undercautious just because he's fictional in your world--he's very real, and very dangerous.

Voice

[dontforgetpie]

Got it.

[Any initial traces of hesitation are gone.]

Is there anything in particular you want me to do?

Voice

[chiroptophobic]

I want you to stay alive. Other than that I think you can probably find your own way. You've done this kind of thing before. But I'll be watching you, and I'm your safety net. Don't forget that--there may come a time when you're glad you have it.

Voice

[dontforgetpie]

I understand.

Voice

[chiroptophobic]

Keep me in the loop.

Re: Voice

[dontforgetpie]

Yes, sir.