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[torchbearer]

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[batsymbol]

Good. Not much use if you do.

( for either of them. )

And I don't know. I woke up like this.

[torchbearer]

Okay, uh. Last time it was magic . . . must have been some kind of magic again.

I don't know any sorcerers here though.

[batsymbol]

( raising a hand, he narrows his eyes some. )

There was a last time?

[torchbearer]

Sorry, man. We get into a lot of weird stuff in the League.

[batsymbol]

( another sigh, he pinches the bridge of his nose. )

Great.

[torchbearer]

[ how to comfort a tiny bruce . . . ]

It's fine. It just means there's a fix. Potentially.

[batsymbol]

Potentially.

( arm flapping down against his side again, he wanders off across the rooftop a little, stopping after a moment. )

You're the only one that knows at the moment. ( a beat, he lets his gaze drop down. ) I didn't want to freak out the others. They're already freaked with how young I am... or was.

( and now he's even younger. )

[torchbearer]

[ kyle sighs. ]

We have to let someone know. I don't really have the connections to fix this and the ring doesn't work that way.

[batsymbol]

Who do you suggest?

( because bruce doesn't exactly have much in the way of connections here currently. )

[torchbearer]

Grayson. He's probably your best bet. And he'll keep a cool head.

[batsymbol]

( despite his much younger age now, he still gives kyle a rather skeptical look. )

How sure are you of that?

( he obviously knows who he is to dick, to jason, to tim, to all of them. )

[torchbearer]

[ hm. ]

Pretty sure. I'll admit, I haven't worked with Dick as much as you or Jason, but Dick was the first. He's been through it all. And . . . I'd say he knew you, a you, best.

[batsymbol]

( letting his gaze drops again, he shakes his head slowly. )

It's not fair to put this on him.

( but he also doesn't know what else to do. )

[torchbearer]

What does fairness have to do with anything?

[ sometimes, kyle really can't grasp the logic here. the logic of so many superheroes. ]

You need help. He'll help you. Why do you think Robins existed to begin with?

[batsymbol]

I don't know because I don't have one.

( it's strange for him. he's ten years old again but he... remembers. everything. he knows his parents are dead. that he's batman. that he's here in this place where people know him but he doesn't know them and yet... he doesn't feel like that's him. he feels... ten. )

[torchbearer]

Okay.

[ the anger doesn't bother him. bruce is stressed right now. it slides off kyle's back like water. for a brief moment, he remembers jonathan and the guardians. he pitches his voice lower. ]

But you agree you need help, right?

[batsymbol]

( he wants to dig his heels in and say no. that he'll figure it out, but. how? maybe if alfred was here he'd say that. because then he'd have him to turn to. but he doesn't. what he does have is kyle here with him now... and the others. the others who keep reaching out to him. who he initially thought of as just curious of him but... maybe it's more. )

With this specific thing. Yes.

[torchbearer]

Do you want me to reach out to Dick first?

Though it'll be a giveaway that I'm doing it for you.

Or, I don't know, we can wait it out. For all we know, it could pass.

[batsymbol]

You'd reach out to him either way.

( so therefore, he's not going to be mad at kyle for it. )

You can do that while you help with me something.

( at that, he gestures for kyle to follow, bruce heading over to the side of the building where the fire escape ladder is to climb down. )

[torchbearer]

[ kyle follows him, curious. what would bruce need him for? ]

[batsymbol]

( he's careful in the way he climbs down the ladder, only letting himself drop from it to the ground when he's sure he won't hurt himself doing so. adjusting his sleeves which keep falling down from his elbows, he makes his way through the alley to the batmobile.

that he intends to drive.

as a ten year old. )

I need new clothes while I'm like this and a new suit since my current one doesn't fit.

[torchbearer]

[ . . . uhm. ]

Bruce. You can't drive that.

[ a beat. ]

Can you even reach the pedals?

[batsymbol]

( wow, kyle. )

I made it here fine, didn't I?

[torchbearer]

Did you?

[ what definition of "fine" are they working with here. ]

[batsymbol]

I didn't hit anyone.

( a beat. )

I just... maybe took out a couple mailboxes... and a bike rack... shopping cart, but that rolled in front of me.