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[torchbearer]

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[torchbearer]

🫥

john malone??

[reneger]

( listen. )

that's me

[torchbearer]

was post malone taken?

[reneger]

matches was
a shame, i loved that one

( stealing dick's middle name felt better.

he was already close by, so it's only a few moments longer before jason's shoving open the window to kyle's apartment and letting himself in, geared up with his nice red hood. )

[torchbearer]

[ matches malone sounds vaguely familiar. maybe kyle should have paid more attention to aliases back when he was in the justice league. at any rate, it's a moot point.

at least, having the ring means he's quickly suited up, mask on, even if he's barely hiding a yawn. kyle keeps odd hours in general, thanks to space and comic book deadlines. ]

So is the John official now?

[reneger]

For now.

( he'll need a new phone later. a few side burners. attach an id to each phone for various purposes, make sure they're untraceable. leave some actually traceable, because the inability to track it down would be suspicious on his own. he's got plans.

unfortunately he's more broke than kyle because jason refuses to take advantage of the gifted credit card, or the hotel rooms, or anything aside from the phone that'd been dropped onto his lap. and only because he needed that.

once he gets back up onto his feet and shuts (locks too) the window behind him, jason's taking the time to make his way around kyle's apartment. being a nosy asshole, but also picking up various small objects, checking behind and under them, opening drawers, feeling under tables--just in case. )

I've got a present for you. ( when he's done with this. )

[torchbearer]

[ dryly, as kyle watches jason go over his apartment. if he wasn't used to this from batman, he'd be more annoyed. ]

You really put out for second dates, huh. What is it?

[reneger]

( friendship means not letting your family bug friends' apartments. bruce was here, jason knows how he is. also fuck that guy and while he's used to being stalked around, he doesn't feel like dealing with it in kyle's place.

a few minutes of rummaging around before jason calls it as good enough and reaches down into his jacket pocket, to pull out an ear piece. tosses it in kyle's direction. )

A secure line. In case you miss me. Two way--so unless anyone decides to get real nosy, it won't be overheard. ( only so much he can do to secure it with all the other brats running around. he's smart, but he's not keep them all out forever smart. )

[torchbearer]

[ with a sigh, he pockets it. ]

If I wanted this, I'd get my ears pierced. Do we really have to do this cloak and dagger stuff?

[ kyle hates it. he's bad at stealth in and out of video games. ]

[reneger]

( kyle's a green nightlight, jason knows better than to expect him to stay out of the limelight.

but he does take off the hood. there's a domino mask on under it anyway. )

You show your face, no one gives a shit. What are they gonna do? 's not like you have anyone around for any baddies to kidnap and dangle off roofs menacingly. They come after you, you've got everything you need on hand ( ha get it. ) to get them to fuck off.

I slip up, and it outs everyone by association.

( so. jason has to, even if kyle can do whatever he wants. )

[torchbearer]

[ his jaw tightens at that remark. not having anyone is certainly kyle's decision, but it's not one he has always held onto consciously. because he did have people. alex, donna, jenny. and while he's not responsible for the latter two, the association is hard to shake off. ]

Not my fault you all formed a club. And you're admitting you can slip up? Bold.

[reneger]

If I'd gotten here first, I wouldn't've tied myself to everyone so obviously.

( very rude of his minime to ruin that for him. another thing to add to the things to beat himself up over list for later. )

I'm not Batman. Being dead gave me an edge that I don't have here. And last time I fucked up, it cost little D an arm.

( just the usual, everything i touch shrivels up and dies bullshit. )

[torchbearer]

[ he rolls his eyes. ]

I'm sure that would have made a ton of difference. Which one's Little D now?

[reneger]

Nightwing the second.

( a very long story for another day or maybe one to avoid forever because that sounds easier. kyle can just find damian out in the wild and figure it out himself. )

You wanted in when I found shit to do.

[torchbearer]

That was only a few days ago, I didn't forget.

[ and he's already regretting it. ]

[reneger]

I'm robbing the D'Amicos. A mob family.

( why is he robbing the mob? because tim suggested it. as if jason wouldn't see "steal from the mob" and opt to do it in the most extra way possible because tim suggested it, clearly it's all tim's fault. )

Like a proper Robin Hood. ( the grin hides a barely surpressed laugh because clearly he's hilarious. )

[torchbearer]

Ingenious.

[ even if kyle is sure that money isn't making it to the poor. ]

[reneger]

Most of the funds are being redistributed where they're needed. ( obviously not all of it, because- ) Some's for me, obviously.

Unless you want me sleeping on your couch.

( it's only a little crime. a crime against criminals. it hardly counts. )

You don't have to do shit, I just need back up. And hands to help carry their shit out.

[torchbearer]

[ kyle waves it off. he figured that was the case and he's not fussed about it. although. he has to ask. ]

What about casualties?

[ killing, specifically. again, not something kyle has an ethical issue with but he rather not. ]

[reneger]

None. I play by Bats' rules these days.

( ninety percent of the time. and if he can get away with not being caught then clearly it didn't happen. )

Part of the call for help. If I was aiming to kill it'd be easy. Leaving live bodies behind means leaving the chance of them getting back up. Dying via getting shot in the back'd just be embarrassing.

[torchbearer]

[ that tracks. he nods. ]

All right. Just tell me when and where.

[reneger]

I'll keep you updated.

( or ring kyle up two minutes beforehand, whichever feels right in the moment. in the meantime, he's raising a hand to gesture towards the window. )

Think you can dim yourself down enough to go out an' do some recon?

( can kyle manage to try and be stealthy for a minute. )

[torchbearer]

[ he scowls. ]

I'm not a nightlight and it doesn't work like that.

[ kyle is not perpetually glowing. ]

[reneger]

I'm sure four year olds love you.

( snorting, but he's climbing up onto the window sill again anyway. shoves his hood down over his head. )

You suck at stealth.

[torchbearer]

You suck at everything else, so it evens out.

[ he's not interested in becoming the next dude in assassin's creed. how he does things works. ]