I fought the law (and the law won)

[mrsarcastic003]

There's not a whole lot to do, when you're marking time in a jail cell.  Tim has paced every inch of it, calculated the estimated area of his new living space (small), and counted the ceiling tiles (42 and 1/4).

He hasn't tried to escape, though he thinks he might be able to, if he really tried.  But he won't. 

Right now, he's lying on his cot, staring at the ceiling, and hoping that no one comes to visit him.  He's not sure he can face their disappointment.

Comments

[governmentninja]

This time, Leon did roll his eyes. He was really getting bored with people and their games, especially when it all so needless. Frankly, after everything that happened, Leon knew he needed to get back to really being himself. Which meant playing along and dancing around for as only long as he absolutely had to, and taking the direct approach to solve a problem whenever the opportunity presented itself.

And now he had that opportunity.

"I had no reason to take you in," he replied calmly. He was actually in Bruce's debt, one he was paying off by not shooting him right now. Bruce may be in peril, but not because of Leon.

"And you may be an asshole, and possibly insane if even half of what the kids say about you is true. But unless this cause you plan on rallying involves needlessly putting the rest of the crew in mortal danger, which it probably doesn't, you'll give me an occasional headache, but I doubt you'll give me a reason to want to keep you here.

"So if we could cut the shit for all of five minutes, we might actually be able to make our lives easier while we're stuck here. Possibly even get the hell off this ship even faster." Leon shrugged, "Or you can keep being a dick if you think that'll help anything. Your choice."

[crusades]

Bruce's expression softens.

What? The kid gave good sass.

"I was actually joking about the first two," okay, so maybe the first one, "I guess they didn't tell you that I make a habit of doing so. I know that Tim was brought here willingly, but that doesn't mean he doesn't need the kind of help a cell can't provide. I wanted to see him and I'm used to letting myself in. Out, too, because the law doesn't really have time worth wasting on me."

And, to prove that he really does joke occasionally, "If that's going to be a problem, I can provide you with the four methods of escape I've assayed for this particular cell so that you can deter such behaviour."

[governmentninja]

You'll have to forgive Leon for still being a bit dubious. But he was willing to ease up some. "Actually, they told me you had no sense of humor," he joked dryly. And, ironically, Bruce had likely heard the same thing about Leon.

"We know Tim needs help, they all do. But they also all need to be held here, securely, until we can figure out how to best help them. Can't have people just letting themselves in and out.

"You're right in that I don't have much time worth wasting on this, but I still have a job that needs doing. Even if all I'm doing is putting out fires so everyone else can focus on the important stuff."

[crusades]

"By 'they' you mean Superboy, right?" Yeah, that was one kid he didn't mind scaring the crap out of once in a while.

"I understand," he'd had the Joker escape so many times to convince him there was no such thing as 'maximum' security, "But I'm not people."

And then, he does let himself out. It doesn't exactly take twenty minutes, but it does take a lot more than a ballpoint. About four million dollars more.

"Actually, we both have a job that needs doing. One of my boys is still out there."

[governmentninja]

"Kon is one of the louder ones about it," he answered with a smirk. Codenames? Secret identities? Pfft! Fuck that noise.

That smirk did fade when the cell opened. Leon just shook his head a little. It may have been a four million dollar trick, but one that-- if engineering is as good as they love to brag about-- he won't be able to pull again.

"Jason Todd," Leon answered. "Greyson is handling that one."

[crusades]

With two twelfth-level intellects and a Time Lord, they're probably better. Shame the bragging is about as time consuming as this dick-waving match, or they might have already had it sorted.

"Not without me he isn't," he replies, pulling the cowl over his head, "He's already been shot once."

[governmentninja]

Which, if you consider that most of the crew is the same way, would explain why, with everyone's powers, knowledge, and resources, they're still stuck in one part the ship.

"Grayson's call," he told Bruce simply. "Rule thirty-eight; his case, his lead. I'd rather he not use any of the kids, but he's free to take whoever he chooses and use any resource at his disposal."

[crusades]

Bruce is already gone. He nodded to Tim to let him know he'd be back, then high-tailed it out into the city.

Yeah, get used to it Leon. He may not be making himself at home in the hoosegow any time soon, but when people try to drop regulations around Batman, they'll usually find themselves talking to a fat load of air.

[governmentninja]

Of course he is. That means he's Grayson's problem now. Hopefully the guy can deal with him.

Leon leaned near the open cell door and looked at Tim.

"So that's your Dad, huh?"

[mrsarcastic003]

"In a manner of speaking," Tim replies with a slight smile. Bruce is the closest thing to a parent e has left, anyway, for all that he'd turned him down in his offer to adopt him.

[governmentninja]

That explained a few things, both good and bad.

"Your biological parents...?"

[mrsarcastic003]

"Gone," he replies, a little shortly. It's still too soon since his father's death to discuss it cavalierly with a stranger.

[governmentninja]

"Hm," was the only response he had for that.

He pondered leaving Tim alone about then, but something compelled him to stay for a moment.

"So why be a superhero?"

[mrsarcastic003]

Tim gives him a slight smile. "I was needed. Or--no." He pauses to correct himself. "Someone was needed. I knew just enough to volunteer."

[governmentninja]

"Not your typical after-school job.

"...at least not on my world," he added.

[mrsarcastic003]

"Not on my world either. Dad was beyond furious when he found out."

[governmentninja]

"Sounds like a good parent." Lord only know how Leon would react to something like that. "Though, the way some of you kids act around here, you'd think it was your god given right to throw yourself into harms way."

[mrsarcastic003]

"He was." When he was around, which was more in recent years than it had been when Tim was younger. Maybe if he had payed more attention then, Tim might not have been Robin, but... he can't bring himself to regret it.

"Isn't it?" Tim asks, raising an eyebrow at Leon. "I've been fighting psychos since I was thirteen. I'm pretty good at it. Why shouldn't I use my training?"

[governmentninja]

"Thirteen?!"

Leon may or may not deal with the rest of your statement later, Tim. Right now, he's still stuck on the fact that some psycho let a thirteen year old fight other psychos.

[mrsarcastic003]

Tim blinks. Leon sounds... exactly like his dad had sounded when he found out, actually. Weird.

"Yes, thirteen. That was when I started being Robin."

[governmentninja]

It was a good thing Leon wasn't his father, or his reaction would be quite different than what it was. As it stood, Leon just stepped back, and quietly locked Tom back in his cell.

"We'll talk more later." Leon was going to need a minute.

He started to leave, but paused for a moment. "Just one more thing. Any soldier, whether they've been discharged or on shore leave, aren't allowed to put on war paint and run around being up bank robbers or whatever, even on US soil. There actually is a reason for that. You think on that for a while, and I...

"I need to have a talk with someone."

[mrsarcastic003]

Tim makes a quietly skeptical noise. He's still sitting on his cot, where he's been for this entire conversation. He'd made no move for the open door--and not just because Leon was right there. He really thinks he deserves to be here.

But not for being a vigilante. Caped heroes and vigilantes have been a reality in his world for a long time. He might be sorry about his actions regarding the yeerk--he should have asked for help--but he doesn't regret being Robin.