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[Red Robin is half way through one of his patrol routes when he first catches sight of a silhouette that isn't part of Gotham’s typical skyline.
It isn’t too unusual to see someone at the edge of a building contemplating things, and it certainly isn't unusual for him to act accordingly. That doesn’t stop his eyes from widening behind his mask or his chest from clenching a little when he swings overhead between two taller buildings.
He immediately doubles back, silently landing several yards behind the lone figure (a woman, he now sees). There’s something about the set of her shoulders and the careful way she is gripping the bottle that has him pause. That doesn’t mean his hand lets go of the grapple or that his muscles aren’t tightly coiled, ready to spring forward if needed.
Sometimes people need a place to think, or sometimes they need space, even if it’s somewhere out of the norm. Still, his eyes follow the way her fingers trace the glass and how they worry at the still sealed bottle.
What spurs him into action is the way her hand retreats and twists into her hair and the tension in the action that radiates through her body. She hasn’t said a word yet, but he sees hesitation and a mind torn in more than one direction.
Red Robin is careful to make himself known in audible footsteps and the swish of his cape before he joins her like it’s an everyday occurrence, facing forward with gloved hands propped against the ledge and legs idly swinging in open air.]
That’s some view huh?
[There’s an easy smile below the cowl. The bottle of jack sits within reaching distance between them.]
Well, it’s been clearer on other nights. It’s kind of random, honestly. Thank you Gotham smog.
[Laurel is simultaneously realizing her mistake and exactly what it looks like she's doing at the same time that she feels her reflexes kicking in. She's at a disadvantage, sitting down and so close to the edge, but she knows how to use her environment. There's no threat in the voice or the words, but being taken off guard always makes her uneasy. Her hand tightens around the bottle's neck as she turns to face the new arrival, ready to use it as a projectile or slam it into the man's face if necessary. The bottle stays gripped in her hand and her mouth opens and closes, words vanishing from her lips the moment she takes him in.
Mask, cowl (much better at concealing an identity than a hood she thinks to herself in bitter amusement), and a uniform to match. Well then. She can't really see much with the uniform, but what she can makes her think he must be younger than she'd first thought. It makes her think of Roy and her fingers go loose around the bottle.]
I wouldn't know. First time in the city. [It's a strange thing to say when faced with a masked stranger who's either some sort of vigilante or villain, but it comes out of her mouth before she can stop it. A moment passes and her eyes flicker to her legs, still dangling over the side.]
I'm not jumping. [And she can't help it, she's back to staring at him. From the look of the uniform, he's for real and she doesn't even know how to begin to process that. Is this normal on this Earth? Is this a thing everywhere now?]
I left Star City to avoid people who wear masks. [Sort of. Not exactly. Mostly the ones who should know her and didn't. This guy has nothing to do with it. Still, it's like she can't get away from it no matter were she goes. And maybe that's a good thing. She needs them to get home, Laurel knows that, but everything is just so messed up. Here, home. Maybe her world is better off with her gone. (Deep down, she knows that's not true and she's kicking herself for such defeatist bullshit.)]
[Red Robin doesn't outwardly react to the move for the bottle, and most definitely doesn't smile. He doesn't want to spook her after all.]
I don't remember rooftop hang outs being a part of the tourist pamphlet. [A slight incline of his head to acknowledge her statement.] But they sure beat tourist traps for places to think.
[While she openly studies him he is shamelessly taking advantage of the cowl lens to give the impression of still looking straight forward. It’s convenient like that.
He doesn't so much startle as blink a little funny once he gets a better look at her face. He thought there was something familiar about her voice, what had thrown him was her demeanor and behavior, a bit of a far cry from one Dinah Laurel Lance.
The Black Canary.
This would be a lot more surprising and weird if the barriers between universes hadn’t been acting less like walls and more like strainers in the past couple of weeks. Suffice to say, it’s been interesting (if stressful) lately.
She’s younger, he sees now, less experienced and likely from a world just discovering superheroes if she thought coming to Gotham (of all places) meant escaping them. The Dinah he knows certainly wouldn’t, she’s too aware of the bats (read: Batman) to be caught brooding on top of one of Gotham’s skyscrapers.
Speaking of which, the birds are half way across the world on a mission and if this Dinah wants to avoid the Arrows then it’s probably up to him to help her out. It isn’t an exact science yet dealing with this new thing the multiverse saw fit to throw at them. It's been random so far and not exactly common, with every superhero dealing with their own city. People could come and go in the blink of an eye or be stuck for weeks, and he’d bet she’s going to be one of the latter if she isn’t already. He’d also bet that Oliver was being a pain in the ass, which, given her statement, is something her world has in common with his.
Red Robin turns his head to shoot her a grin like she isn't heavily hinting that she wants to be left alone by masked vigilantes.]
[That catches her attention and one corner of her lips pulls up into a half smile. It occurs to her that this is probably the easiest conversation she's had with anyone in weeks (and isn't that sad.) The weeks here had been spent in solitude avoiding all interaction, and before that...well, before that was everything else. Things still on edge with her dad, Thea dealing with the mess that was her own life now, Oliver being Oliver, and Nyssa...she doesn't want to think about Nyssa at all. (About Sara. About the choice that she doesn't regret no matter how much the people around her want her to.)
It feels good to talk to a stranger from another world.]
You know them? [Wait. She straightens, suddenly self conscious. If he had met them-if he had met Black canary-Laurel stands, leaving the bottle on the floor.]
He stands as well, keeping his hands in sight and his body language open. It shouldn't hurt to share, and he does want her to trust him.]
It's a small world, we team up on occasion. [There's a brief, humorous smile.] Just so you know, Star City isn't the only place you're going to be tripping over superheroes and villains.
[Things Oliver Queen should have shared but didn't. Sigh. At least she doesn't seem to be completely in the dark about her situation.]
Black Canary, right? [It's more of a courtesy than an actual question.] I'm Red Robin.
Red Robin. [Well that...is a lot to take in. Of course it's also impossible to deny given that he's just named her secret identity. She moves away from him, dragging a hand through her hair and pacing for a moment before turning back to face him. She isn't sure how to feel about any of this.
At least it's a distraction. (She doesn't realize that the alcohol hasn't crossed her mind from the moment he'd landed beside her.)]
You've got it wrong, I'm not her. [Except. Except he's introducing himself to her. Like he knows she's not his world's Black Canary.]
...but I'm guessing you already figured that part out. Does this sort of thing happen a lot here?
[He stays quiet as she paces, feeling a little bad about springing things on her before she knows he could be trusted or not. Especially given what he's guessed of her universe so far.
Well, she's handling this better than most others would. Then again, she is Dinah's counterpart.]
It happens enough. [The wry tone fades as he continues.] But the frequency and the way it's occurring isn't exactly normal.
[If "normal" could even be applied to the multiverse.]
Is this your first time dealing with alternate universes?
[There's a whole lot more she doesn't know yet, but baby steps, right?]
[She shakes her head and places a hand on her mouth before moving it to her hip.]
There was something a few weeks ago in Central City. The Flash told Green Arrow about it. [If he knows her identity, he probably knows Barry's and Oliver's, but that hardly means she's going to put that to the test. Hell, for all she knows, he could be another psycho meta. Even if he's not acting like it at the moment. (She hopes he's not.)]
It sounded completely insane but the rest of them-they're the ones with the physics doctorates, not me-they said the multiverse theory was a viable theory. But personally? Yes, this is my first time being thrown into an alternate version of my Earth. I mean, I can't say I was completely sold on it. [She motions to her surroundings.]
I guess this is what I get for doubting! [Her hand goes back up to her face and she laughs, palm slipping down to bar her eyes from view momentarily.] Because I don't have enough going on in my seriously screwed up life!
[The hand falls back to her side and she shakes her head. Now is not the time to have a meltdown. Not when she doesn't know if this guy is for real or not. Laurel inhales, counts to five, exhales.]
Look, I realize I don't exactly have a lot of options here, but I've got nothing to go on for trusting you other than what you've said.
[Great. The superheroes of her universe just barely got introduced to the idea that the multiverse is more than a theory and it’s her first time actually experiencing it.
And apparently she’s at a crappy point in her life so of course the multiverse saw fit to throw her a curve ball. Is it a blessing in disguise or a curse? All Tim knows is that the laugh that escaped her, the strained desperation in her voice makes him want to reach out.
But he is a masked stranger that she has no reason to trust.
Her universe sounds young enough that his generation isn’t likely to be part of the superhero community yet. Heck, has the Justice League even formed?]
The multiverse is a pain like that. [He gives a sarcastic shrug that definitely speaks from experience.] Job interview the next day? Looking for a missing person? In the middle of your first meal in days? Doesn’t matter, off you go on the multiverse’s whim.
[He drops the air he had put on.]
I know you’re avoiding Star, but you could ask Oliver or [Here is where he makes an educated guess, though he’s certain he’ll get it right.] Barry to vouch for me.
[For all she knows, Oliver and Barry could be evil in this universe, but he’s pretty sure she’d be able to tell.]
[Laurel is silent for a long moment, eyes fixed on Red Robin's eyes hidden behind his lenses, and then her shoulders loosen as some of the tension drops out of them and she lets out a breath, closing her eyes and taking a moment to gather herself.]
I'm not usually this hysterical, you know. You kind of caught me on a bad day. [A wry smile tugs at her lips and she offers it up in apology. He knows Barry and Oliver's names and she'd done enough research in this world to know that they're the good guys here too. It might not be a guarantee, but it does mean the likelihood of Red Robin lying about all of this is pretty low.]
To be honest, it's less about avoiding Star and more about avoiding Oliver. Which is pretty stupid since he's not even my Oliver. Didn't exactly leave my world on good terms with him and I wasn't eager to ask him for help or even tell him I was here. Pretty dumb letting my pride get in the way, I know. [and she hadn't really had a way to reach Barry. She had tried, though not as hard as she could have. Maybe she'd needed the time to wallow. Maybe she was just a mess and couldn't get it together well enough to actually think straight.]
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no subject
It isn’t too unusual to see someone at the edge of a building contemplating things, and it certainly isn't unusual for him to act accordingly. That doesn’t stop his eyes from widening behind his mask or his chest from clenching a little when he swings overhead between two taller buildings.
He immediately doubles back, silently landing several yards behind the lone figure (a woman, he now sees). There’s something about the set of her shoulders and the careful way she is gripping the bottle that has him pause. That doesn’t mean his hand lets go of the grapple or that his muscles aren’t tightly coiled, ready to spring forward if needed.
Sometimes people need a place to think, or sometimes they need space, even if it’s somewhere out of the norm. Still, his eyes follow the way her fingers trace the glass and how they worry at the still sealed bottle.
What spurs him into action is the way her hand retreats and twists into her hair and the tension in the action that radiates through her body. She hasn’t said a word yet, but he sees hesitation and a mind torn in more than one direction.
Red Robin is careful to make himself known in audible footsteps and the swish of his cape before he joins her like it’s an everyday occurrence, facing forward with gloved hands propped against the ledge and legs idly swinging in open air.]
That’s some view huh?
[There’s an easy smile below the cowl. The bottle of jack sits within reaching distance between them.]
Well, it’s been clearer on other nights. It’s kind of random, honestly. Thank you Gotham smog.
no subject
Mask, cowl (much better at concealing an identity than a hood she thinks to herself in bitter amusement), and a uniform to match. Well then. She can't really see much with the uniform, but what she can makes her think he must be younger than she'd first thought. It makes her think of Roy and her fingers go loose around the bottle.]
I wouldn't know. First time in the city. [It's a strange thing to say when faced with a masked stranger who's either some sort of vigilante or villain, but it comes out of her mouth before she can stop it. A moment passes and her eyes flicker to her legs, still dangling over the side.]
I'm not jumping. [And she can't help it, she's back to staring at him. From the look of the uniform, he's for real and she doesn't even know how to begin to process that. Is this normal on this Earth? Is this a thing everywhere now?]
I left Star City to avoid people who wear masks. [Sort of. Not exactly. Mostly the ones who should know her and didn't. This guy has nothing to do with it. Still, it's like she can't get away from it no matter were she goes. And maybe that's a good thing. She needs them to get home, Laurel knows that, but everything is just so messed up. Here, home. Maybe her world is better off with her gone. (Deep down, she knows that's not true and she's kicking herself for such defeatist bullshit.)]
no subject
I don't remember rooftop hang outs being a part of the tourist pamphlet. [A slight incline of his head to acknowledge her statement.] But they sure beat tourist traps for places to think.
[While she openly studies him he is shamelessly taking advantage of the cowl lens to give the impression of still looking straight forward. It’s convenient like that.
He doesn't so much startle as blink a little funny once he gets a better look at her face. He thought there was something familiar about her voice, what had thrown him was her demeanor and behavior, a bit of a far cry from one Dinah Laurel Lance.
The Black Canary.
This would be a lot more surprising and weird if the barriers between universes hadn’t been acting less like walls and more like strainers in the past couple of weeks. Suffice to say, it’s been interesting (if stressful) lately.
She’s younger, he sees now, less experienced and likely from a world just discovering superheroes if she thought coming to Gotham (of all places) meant escaping them. The Dinah he knows certainly wouldn’t, she’s too aware of the bats (read: Batman) to be caught brooding on top of one of Gotham’s skyscrapers.
Speaking of which, the birds are half way across the world on a mission and if this Dinah wants to avoid the Arrows then it’s probably up to him to help her out. It isn’t an exact science yet dealing with this new thing the multiverse saw fit to throw at them. It's been random so far and not exactly common, with every superhero dealing with their own city. People could come and go in the blink of an eye or be stuck for weeks, and he’d bet she’s going to be one of the latter if she isn’t already. He’d also bet that Oliver was being a pain in the ass, which, given her statement, is something her world has in common with his.
Red Robin turns his head to shoot her a grin like she isn't heavily hinting that she wants to be left alone by masked vigilantes.]
They’re kind of a pain over there, aren’t they?
no subject
It feels good to talk to a stranger from another world.]
You know them? [Wait. She straightens, suddenly self conscious. If he had met them-if he had met Black canary-Laurel stands, leaving the bottle on the floor.]
Which ones?
no subject
He stands as well, keeping his hands in sight and his body language open. It shouldn't hurt to share, and he does want her to trust him.]
It's a small world, we team up on occasion. [There's a brief, humorous smile.] Just so you know, Star City isn't the only place you're going to be tripping over superheroes and villains.
[Things Oliver Queen should have shared but didn't. Sigh. At least she doesn't seem to be completely in the dark about her situation.]
Black Canary, right? [It's more of a courtesy than an actual question.] I'm Red Robin.
no subject
At least it's a distraction. (She doesn't realize that the alcohol hasn't crossed her mind from the moment he'd landed beside her.)]
You've got it wrong, I'm not her. [Except. Except he's introducing himself to her. Like he knows she's not his world's Black Canary.]
...but I'm guessing you already figured that part out. Does this sort of thing happen a lot here?
no subject
Well, she's handling this better than most others would. Then again, she is Dinah's counterpart.]
It happens enough. [The wry tone fades as he continues.] But the frequency and the way it's occurring isn't exactly normal.
[If "normal" could even be applied to the multiverse.]
Is this your first time dealing with alternate universes?
[There's a whole lot more she doesn't know yet, but baby steps, right?]
no subject
There was something a few weeks ago in Central City. The Flash told Green Arrow about it. [If he knows her identity, he probably knows Barry's and Oliver's, but that hardly means she's going to put that to the test. Hell, for all she knows, he could be another psycho meta. Even if he's not acting like it at the moment. (She hopes he's not.)]
It sounded completely insane but the rest of them-they're the ones with the physics doctorates, not me-they said the multiverse theory was a viable theory. But personally? Yes, this is my first time being thrown into an alternate version of my Earth. I mean, I can't say I was completely sold on it. [She motions to her surroundings.]
I guess this is what I get for doubting! [Her hand goes back up to her face and she laughs, palm slipping down to bar her eyes from view momentarily.] Because I don't have enough going on in my seriously screwed up life!
[The hand falls back to her side and she shakes her head. Now is not the time to have a meltdown. Not when she doesn't know if this guy is for real or not. Laurel inhales, counts to five, exhales.]
Look, I realize I don't exactly have a lot of options here, but I've got nothing to go on for trusting you other than what you've said.
no subject
And apparently she’s at a crappy point in her life so of course the multiverse saw fit to throw her a curve ball. Is it a blessing in disguise or a curse? All Tim knows is that the laugh that escaped her, the strained desperation in her voice makes him want to reach out.
But he is a masked stranger that she has no reason to trust.
Her universe sounds young enough that his generation isn’t likely to be part of the superhero community yet. Heck, has the Justice League even formed?]
The multiverse is a pain like that. [He gives a sarcastic shrug that definitely speaks from experience.] Job interview the next day? Looking for a missing person? In the middle of your first meal in days? Doesn’t matter, off you go on the multiverse’s whim.
[He drops the air he had put on.]
I know you’re avoiding Star, but you could ask Oliver or [Here is where he makes an educated guess, though he’s certain he’ll get it right.] Barry to vouch for me.
[For all she knows, Oliver and Barry could be evil in this universe, but he’s pretty sure she’d be able to tell.]
no subject
I'm not usually this hysterical, you know. You kind of caught me on a bad day. [A wry smile tugs at her lips and she offers it up in apology. He knows Barry and Oliver's names and she'd done enough research in this world to know that they're the good guys here too. It might not be a guarantee, but it does mean the likelihood of Red Robin lying about all of this is pretty low.]
To be honest, it's less about avoiding Star and more about avoiding Oliver. Which is pretty stupid since he's not even my Oliver. Didn't exactly leave my world on good terms with him and I wasn't eager to ask him for help or even tell him I was here. Pretty dumb letting my pride get in the way, I know. [and she hadn't really had a way to reach Barry. She had tried, though not as hard as she could have. Maybe she'd needed the time to wallow. Maybe she was just a mess and couldn't get it together well enough to actually think straight.]
I don't need to call them, I believe you.