bildungsromans | for watcheslanterns

[ Dick's a tad sympathetic to that deep breath - it's obvious to him just how painful it must be for Rapunzel to conjure what she's about to say. Once she finally divulges the utter tragedy she'd faced... Dick can only come close and hold her in a tight embrace. ]

Hey... I'm sorry.

Eugene was a hero. Is a hero.

[ Before he overstays his welcome, Dick parts from the hug, but he still maintains a gentle hold of one of Rapunzel's wrists. ]

Look, this is heavy. We should sit.

[ A nearby set of chairs will do, which is where Dick leads her. ]

Do you want water or something?

I'll come back with whatever you need. Just... please, take a moment. Gather your thoughts.

Hey, hey, hey.

[ Dick puts his hands on Rapunzel's shoulders, like she'd been moving in place at a million miles per hour and needed to be stopped. ]

Slow down, Rapunzel.

You're not in danger.

[ 'Especially now that I'm here,' he wants to say. But quips probably don't make the best salve for distress. ]

And also, I happen to know my way around these woods.

What brings you here, anyway? Finally run away from that mom of yours?

[ The hug takes her by surprise. She stiffens in his arms, having not been held for quite some time now. Just when she thinks she might relax into the embrace, he removes himself, and a small part of Rapunzel is somehow disappointed.

She takes a seat, her hands placed in her lap. She twists at them nervously. She's done the hard part now, but the weight of it still feels heavy on her. ]

Yes. Some water would be nice. Thank you.

[ Part of her wants Dick to stay there and reassure her, but another part wants to be as far away from him as possible. Revealing the truth to him seems to change their dynamic somehow. He knows the most important parts of her history, and no one else ever has. The only person to come this close to knowing her had paid for it and she doesn't know what will happen now. ]

[ The physical contact helps. It grounds Rapunzel and she takes a deep breath. Even Pascal is patting her shoulder near Dick's hand, assisting in calming her. She runs a hand through some of her hair and let's out a nervous laugh. ]

Sorry, I really just don't know what I'm doing out here. We're not really running away....but Mother wouldn't exactly be happy about me being out here.

[ Pascal frowns while Rapunzel's brow furrows with indecision. ]

There's just something I need to see. No matter what.

[ If Dick had known what she was thinking, he'd certainly have done his best to assure her that he'd be okay. Despite how terrible a threat Gothel is, Dick has survived far worse dangers - though he supposes he'd rather not admit that in light of what Rapunzel's lost. Who she's lost.

Dick also can't forget that anything could happen to him, despite his confidence. For all he's accomplished, all it would take is a punk with a gun getting lucky. ]

Here's your glass.

[ Dick even got himself a glass of his own, and he sits beside her. Though he's no mind reader, he sees that Rapunzel's admission still weighs heavily on her conscience. How could it not? ]

You know, Rapunzel... I've lost people, too. People I've loved and cherished.

[ He almost scoffs at himself. Had this been any other case, with any other person involved... Dick wouldn't be as poised to tell his life story. Yet here he is, with Rapunzel, who's different somehow. Different because the circumstances have called for it, and the League's involvement has made this bigger than any case in Gotham. ]

It's the main reason I do this.

Not just to prevent others from getting hurt, but to exact justice for those who've been hurt.

[ Might as well take a sip of that water, which he does. ]

I have leads on Ra's. They've fled to new whereabouts.

He usually comes to my doorstep, but now I'll be coming to his.

Huh. And what might that be?

[ Dick's not sure if he's ready to divulge what he's been up to these past several years. It would mean reminding himself of what happened to his parents, how he'd run away from Haly's... it would mean making it all real again. Though he's fostered his own group of 'merry men,' the Titans, he hasn't really gotten so personal in a long time. The only person who knows about his past is the fast one, endowed with the speed of Mercury the way Rapunzel's endowed with magic sunlight. Wally.

So Dick refrains from making anything about himself. ]

I'm, uh... between jobs. Whatever you need, I think I can help.

[ Rapunzel quietly sips at the glass of water, casting her eyes downward. She's not sure why, but she doesn't want to face Dick directly at the moment. Perhaps it's because she feels so vulnerable in that moment, and it was an act of self-preservation.

She hears the determination in Dick's voice, and it comforts her. Something, at least, will be done about what has happened. What Eugene did for her won't be lost to some abyss.

When Dick speaks the word "justice" she glances over the rim of her glass at him. ]

You don't...you wouldn't kill anyone, would you? [ Even though Gothel had done terrible, unforgivable things, Rapunzel doesn't think that killing her is what she wants. ]

[ Luckily for Dick, Rapunzel is too absorbed about her own goal and the situation she's put herself in to notice that maybe he isn't being completely straightforward with her. Playing with some of her hair, she looks at him. ]

It's going to sound silly, maybe, but there are these floating lights. I see them from my window every year on my birthday. I've already felt...well, it seems like somehow they're meant for me to see. And more than anything I just want to see them up close and maybe find out what they mean.

Edited 2018-06-08 15:56 (UTC)

No. Killing's the one line I'll never cross.

You'll understand that about me and the others.

[ Dick's resolve in his demeanor fails to wane, though he hopes his words continue to be reassuring. ]

Gothel and Ra's will get what's coming to them, and that means facing what they've done and living to deal with the consequences.

[ Ra's has a track record of escaping from Bruce and Dick's clutches, almost as much as he's escaped from death's. Gothel, on the other hand, might be a different and somewhat easier story. ]

Now... if I do mount a mission to apprehend Gothel, I've gotta ask.

Do you want to sit this one out, or would you rather come with?

Hmm... well.

They've clearly always been close enough for you to see, so why not? It's definitely not unreasonable to want to go.

[ Dick's imagining that Rapunzel's mother has shut her down over this far too many times. ]

Besides, I know what you're talking about.

[ Back when he and Haly's Circus performed for Corona, he ended up learning about the ways the local culture honored their 'lost princess.' ]

We just need to reach Corona's main village. Might serve to get a head start from here, but we'll definitely need to set up camp later tonight.

[ Rapunzel is relieved at his response. She already feels as though she has one person's blood on her hands. She doesn't want to add to the count, no matter what a person might have done.

Dick's question surprises her though. She's spent so much time just trying to get away from Gothel that the idea of going after her had never occurred to her. For a brief moment, the thought terrifies her. She considers all the ways it could go wrong. She could be taken again. Dick could get hurt. She could falter and lose everything all over again.

And yet...

She doesn't think she will feel complete if she doesn't at least try. Dick is giving her the opportunity to do something about the evil things Rapunzel unknowingly let Gothel do. She knew, deep down, that it would be a mistake not to take it. ]

I'd like to go with you, if you don't think I'd be in the way.

Edited 2018-06-08 18:51 (UTC)

[ Rapunzel goes wide-eyed. Not only is Dick offering to take her to the lights, he actually know what she is talking about. Her mother had just written them off as the stars, and ignored Rapunzel's pleas to know more. But here was someone confirming that the lights weren't just something in her head. ]

You know about the lights? Really?

[ She tilts toward him slightly, eager for information. ]

Really.

[ He's not exactly satisfied to be the bearer of this information. It isn't exactly a secret, which ought to say a lot about how controlling her mother is. Dick can understand protectiveness as a parental impulse, but this... there were red flags from day one. ]

Really, really.

[ He turns to embark towards their destination, certain Rapunzel will follow. ]

And how are you, Pascal?

[ He then addresses Rapunzel, nodding at her. ]

Can I hold him?

You've proven yourself in battle once. I think you can handle a little more, but...

[ He almost can't believe he's going to say this. ]

You can try on some armor in the cave. There might be an old costume you can borrow.

[ Secretly, he hopes this doesn't qualify as an invitation to join the ranks. Even if Rapunzel can hold her own when the going gets tough, she'll need the level of protection a kevlar-lined costume can afford. ]

Come on down.

[ With his glass still in hand, Dick heads for the grandfather clock and leads Rapunzel down the stairs to the central Batcave. ]

Don't expect a trip to the assassins until later tonight. Or hell, even tomorrow night if you need time to mentally prepare.

Whatever the case...

[ Dick leads Rapunzel to an elaborate set of cases along a wall, each case containing a costume suspended for display. There's a Batman costume Dick hasn't worn, older, darker, and charred. Other costumes, lacking cowls and somber colors, bore an 'R' symbol. One broke the mold for having a blue bird shape, but who knows what that's about?

One 'R' costume seems shaped for a female wearer, and it's in front of this costume where Dick stops. He opens the case and steps aside so Rapunzel has room to appraise it. ]

This belonged to a friend. Seeing as she now goes by Batgirl, I don't think she'll... bat an eye if you borrow this.

[ It's the old Robin suit of Stephanie Brown, with some upgrades in case she ever thought to reclaim the mantle. ]

[ Rapunzel looks to Pascal, as she follows alongside Dick. He gives her a nod. Rapunzel reaches out one arm and the chameleon skitters down it, jumping over to Dick. Pascal's made a quick study of Dick, and he's pretty sure his reflexes are good enough for a catch. Pascal remembers Dick when he was younger, and so any distrust he might have for a strange man around Rapunzel is somewhat mitigated by remembering the fun they had all had at the circus.

Meanwhile, Rapunzel begins to relax more. Dick is still sort of a stranger to her, especially given the gap in time since they last met, but her memories of him help to calm her nerves. ]

So, the lights...what are they?

[ Seeing the display of costumes brings the idea of what a museum might look like in Rapunzel's mind. It's like looking back on a history she knows nothing about, but it all feels terribly personal. She wonders what Dick is really thinking as he shows these displays. She wonders where the people who used to wear them are now. She's only met Alfred and Damian and there seem like there must be more people attached to these suits. Dick had spoken of his own loss and Rapunzel has to fight the impulse to ask more. She has a feeling that he would tell her if she did, but it didn't seem right. Not now, anyway.

Instead, she takes in the suit presented to her. She's not quite sure what to make of it. The whole idea of super heroes and vigilantes is still pretty alien to her. But it's obvious that there's protection in wearing something like this. And while she can obviously heal, not getting hurt in the first place would be preferable.

She runs her fingers over the 'R', then glances at Dick. ]

What does it stand for? It doesn't seem to follow the whole bat-theme...

Ah, yes. The lights.

[ Dick can't remember the last time he's been able to, well, cut loose and relax like this. The stakes might be high for Rapunzel, but Dick has to admit - his little solo outing has proven to be far more peaceful than the haphazard violence he's been prone to as of late. Righting wrongs is not easy... even with a team of loyal friends.

Before he gets too distracted by Pascal climbing on him and all, Dick regards Rapunzel with a knowing look. ]

They're to honor the memory of the lost princess.

Corona's royal family lost their heir apparent sometime 18 years ago. An inexplicable disappearance, but a kidnapping, no doubt.

[ He takes a moment to let the information sink in. This, after all, might be the first time Rapunzel's ever heard this. ]

Robin.

[ Well, since Dick's already in his Batsuit, he presses a few hidden buttons in one of his gauntlets to activate a holographic screen. From it, he projects images of himself as Robin and, later, as Nightwing - all pooled from archives in the Gotham Gazette. ]

When Bruce Wayne - the first Batman - took me in as his son, I was Robin. When I got older, I ditched the Christmas colors for something else.

I became Nightwing.

But when an intergalactic threat was on the horizon, and Bruce answered the call... he gave up his life to save the world.

So now, to honor his memory, I've become Batman.

[ Rapunzel probably didn't ask for a lecture, but... too much has happened for Dick to just gloss over, what with all he's already shown her. ]

Rest assured, Bruce's old suit represents the only casualty. Everyone's okay.

[ Jason's a different story. But Jason... is complicated. ]

Just don't tell Damian about this. [ Now, Dick cracks a small grin. ] He's very protective of the 'Robin' title.

[ Rapunzel's eyes widen at Dick's explanation. A princess, kidnapped from her own home? There really were terrible people in the world. Her mother had been right about some things, it seemed. Rapunzel can't imagine why anyone would want to take an innocent child away from their home, from their family. ]

Do they think...I mean, could she still be alive?

[ She's hopeful for a girl she's never met. It's an odd feeling, really. The princess would be her age. She wonders if the princess is looking for something now, just like she is. But if someone could kidnap a child...wouldn't it be equally plausible that they could do something much worse? ]

[ Rapunzel looks away from the suit as Dick tells his story. She hadn't expected him to tell her something so intimate when she asked about the letter. It's obvious though that his strange vocation went a lot deeper than just trying to do some good in the world.

She studies him, her eyes bright. She reaches out and places a hand on Dick's arm. It's a small, silly gesture for something that happened, she didn't know how long ago. But instinct tells her to comfort him in some way. They're still close to strangers, but he's already done so much for her. Shouldn't she be able to do something for him? ]

I'm so sorry. [ Dick cracks a joke, but Rapunzel can't help but think that there's a deeper hurt that he's holding back. ]

You must miss him.

It's very possible, but. Y'know.

Barbaric times like these? Life expectancy's kinda low. Plagues, wars, famine...

[ Dick hesitates before he drones on about the horrors of the world. He vaguely remembers Rapunzel being spoonfed too much of that stuff back when they were kids. ]

Then again, she could also be perfectly fine. A well-adjusted young adult... like we are.

[ His ironic tone betrays a bitterness that's only festered since his parents' deaths. A bitterness tempered by everything he's gained since then, admittedly, but a bitterness nonetheless. ]

Nevermind that. This should be a good place to camp for the night, then we should be able to reach Corona proper by sundown tomorrow.

[ The spot Dick has identified is a space in the woods where just enough trees stand apart from each other that a campsite becomes viable. Dick's eyes seem well-trained for the darkness, like surveying environments without a sufficient light source is something he's had to get used to.

He doesn't even take long to return with firewood, lighting a fire between himself and Rapunzel. ]

Make yourself at home, I suppose.

He was a dark and haunted man.

And the world's only gotten darker without him.

[ He wants to acknowledge Rapunzel's condolences, but the moment - the opportunity, he feels - slips away far too soon. ]

Go ahead and try on the suit. I'll just... be at the Batcomputer.

[ As his way of saying he'll give her some privacy.

He leaps over the railing to glide towards the Batcomputer, which rests at the very heart of the Batcave. ]

[ Rapunzel's temporary good mood wanes somewhat as she listens to Dick's response. She shouldn't be surprised that things really are as dangerous and scary as he mother told her, but she still feels let down. She appreciates Dick's honesty, but just wishes the truth was different.

She looks around the small clearing. Her eyes have adjusted somewhat to the darkness, but she still shivers at the potential nightmares within. She hugs her arms around herself and stays in place while Dick searches for firewood. Only when he's lit the fire does she settle down on the ground. She bends her knees in front of her, then hugs her legs close to her chest. Pascal sits atop her head now, and they both study Dick as he masterfully works the campfire. ]

Do you do this often? Camp out like this?

[ It's impossible not to notices how Dick glosses over the subject, but Rapunzel supposes he has a right to. He doesn't owe her anything personal like that, and she shouldn't pry.

Still, curiosity burns within her as she watches Dick retreat towards the computer. She sighs slightly as she figures out the suit. Her borrowed dress slips to the floor and she steps out of it. The air is cool down here, and she shivers. She peeks over her shoulder at Dick, but it's clear that he isn't peeking. She blushes, wondering what she's thinking, then quickly changes into the suit. It's tight against her skin, far more fitted than anything she's worn before. It isn't a perfect match for her, but it would do.

She tugs at her hair, pulling out any strands caught in the neck of the suit. She looks in the glass in front of her, squinting at what she can see of her reflection. It's strange to see, not just because of the suit, but because she hasn't really taken a good look at herself in some time. She shakes her head and walks away from the display case, towards Dick. She can't linger on thoughts of how much she has changed. ]

So...how do I look?

[ She tries to sound a little playful, but really she just sounds nervous. ]

[ When Rapunzel's features soften in dismay at his words, Dick doesn't fail to notice. ]

Don't get me wrong, Rapunzel. There's still enough life out there worth protecting. I've made a lot of friends you can trust just by fighting for what's right.

[ And that gives him an idea. ]

...In fact, I'm actually surprised I was able to make as many friends as I did. After we see the lights, I can introduce you to them.

[ It also just seems like Rapunzel could use a bigger support network than 'Mother, Chameleon, and That Kid from the Circus Several Years Ago.'

Dick worries about digressing, though, and recalls Rapunzel's question. ]

That said, yes. I do this often, these solo outings.

It gives me time to... think. Process things. [ And occasionally perform reconnaissance on bad people. ]

These days, a lot of people rely on me.

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