networkinthenight | @d.grayson ( text )

yep, it's a date

[ he's lurking around when she arrives. dick goes to her side quickly. ]

Hey. Ready?

Yeah, I'm ready. Just to warn you, though, teleporting can feel... weird.

[The last time she didn't warn someone about that, they'd puked, and she doesn't want a repeat.]

I'm ready. [ he's faced weirder. and that she's worried about him does a lot to reassure him. people who abuse their powers don't care if they hurt others or not.

he wants to be right about kyna. ] On your mark.

Oh, and it'll be loud.

[Kyna reaches out to link their arms, which isn't necessary, but will give him an anchor. She isn't lying about the sound, either—it's a thunderclap, and suddenly, with a twisting, jolting sensation, they find themselves on the other side of the river.]

You okay?

[ he does stumble. she was holding onto him, which steadies him. dick has great balance, but that was unexpected. he gulps in a few breaths quickly. ]

Wow. Yeah - I'm fine. Wow.

[ her power is sooo coool ]

[Kyna beams at him, happy and proud. She's a show off at the best of times, but her magic being... altered here has left her feeling off her game, and though she'd never admit it, insecure.]

Pretty cool, huh?

Yeah. [ "that's one word for it."

he's teleported before. but not like THIS. ]

Glad that was working. [ he's glad too much of her hasn't been affected. it would take something away from her, like it takes away from daylight. it would hurt. ]

Me too.

[She says it softly, soft enough that just a bit of the worry she's been trying to hide leaks through. But then she perks up again, giving his arm a little tug.]

I could teach you sometime. I mean, that spell's a little more complicated, but we can start simple, you know?

[ he was trained to sniff out vulnerabilities. he sees hers. but it only makes him want to help more. dick likes being an avenging angel. a dark knight. he had that example to follow.

but he wants to look after others. he wants to protect them. he has the tools.

he squeezes her arm before he lets go and tries not to gape in shock. ]

I thought - [ homo magi. people had the affinity or they didn't.

she just blew his mind. good job kyna. ]

You can teach yours to others?

Yeah. I mean, some people are better at it than others. Like, my brother sucks.

[She says it jokingly, good-natured ribbing toward a sibling who isn't there.]

But sure. Where I'm from, anyone can learn, mostly.

[ anyone can learn. he echoes her words silently.

dick hasn't got a special use for magic. his training has always served him well - he knows her powers aren't what she's used to. teaching him could be a risk. using the power he's gained from that would also be a risk.

a useful tool. but he'd have to think on it.

but there's a question bursting out of him. he tries to rein in back. stay low key. be chill.

but he has to know. he wrings away all the hope he can from the question. she might not know. it might not be possible to learn this. he can't set them up for failure.

(he has to know.) ]

Could you do, say... a spell for flight?

[She grins at that. It's a question after her own heart, honestly.]

Yeah, of course. I don't know that one, but I could teach you how to turn into a bird. Still flying, right?

Of a kind. [ he smiles. the memories had been bubbling up - ladies and gentlemen, the flying graysons!

he's the last. he's had his feet on the ground a while. ]

Thanks, I'll think it over. I'm not used to magic like that.

Sure. Just... You know. If you ever start getting stir crazy.

[Then she smiles again, mischevious this time, and pokes at his side.]

Or you just really, really want me to teach you how to turn invisible because everyone is driving you nuts.

[ he startles. not used to that except from donna. but it makes him think of her (and miss her). would she mourn him?

he smiles, bittersweet. ]

Yeah, yeah. If you ever figure out the flight one...

[ she’s close enough to see the spark in his eyes. he wants so badly to fly. ]

I'll try it. Is that the only thing you'd want to learn?

Oh, yeah, now that you’ve mentioned I could turn invisible I’m thinking about it right now. [ he wiggles his fingers at her. poof! he could disappear.

he doesn’t need more reason to be a ninja, kyna!!!!! ]

[Kyna bursts out laughing.]

Is that how you think I do it? Wiggle my fingers?

[ he’s not even fighting his smile now. the blue glow of his lantern lights him up. ]

Come on Kyna, don’t you know that’s what you’re supposed to do. Wave your hands and say Abracadabra.

[He smiles and she feels accomplished, somehow, so the teasing is fated to continue.]

Ohhh, you're an expert now.

[But she does as he suggests, waving her hand.]

Abracadabra.

[And confetti rains down between them, shaped like little unicorns, glittering in the light from their lanterns. Before it hits the ground, it disappears.]

[ his smiles since his arrival have been rare. dick doesn’t like being angry, but it’s been his life for the past year. and before that. but it didn’t have that much space around bruce and alfred.

on his own, it’s expanded. it fills him up. being trapped and worrying about rachel and the others. not sleeping that well in the tree he’s got for himself.

she’s achieved a real victory. she got him to relax his guard. even if it won’t drop completely. ]

Hey! What - [ bet she thought that was funny!

he’d dusted his hair reflexively. but it’s really all gone. ]

I’m going to remember that.

Yeah? What are you gonna do, arrest me?

[It's nice—more like back home, bantering and teasing before a job, even if it might end up being dangerous. She doesn't have to think about being dead or about why they're here or about anything else. Not for these few moments, anyway.]

[ he rolls his eyes playfully. ]

Yeah, I'm the fun police, your jokes are too funny. I got the handcuffs right here.

[ he pretends to dig in his pocket for them. there's a set on him, but he won't draw them out. ]

[She gasps, feigning shock, and leans forward to whisper conspiratorially.]

So you do like my jokes!

(no subject)

identifier - 2019-07-27 12:16 (UTC) - Expand