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OurPowers | Video | Tim Drake | Public

Display Name: Tim Drake
Notes: During the age swap event

[ There’s a spikey-haired child who has clearly already discovered Dep Gel. He’s sitting in a front of a grungy brick wall with badly chipping paint that shows the strata of different paint layers. Looks like an alley, with a thin line of corrugated metal just visible behind the boy.

Clever eyes would recognize that he’s sitting on the closed lid of a dumpster. It doesn’t look like a place for a boy of somewhere between 8 and a very small 10. ]

My name’s Tim Drake, and I’m in Central City. I’m not supposed to be.

I hope I’ve gotten this working. I guess it’s supposed to be mine? The account has my name, but that’s not right. You aren’t supposed to use real information on social media, especially when you’re a kid, because it can lead to abductions.

[ Tim glances around, like he’s expecting someone to come bursting in now that he’s said that outloud. ]

And I think I’ve been abducted?

[ He picks at t-shirt and leather jacket that he’s absolutely swimming in. ]

They changed my clothes.

[ Frowning, he looks confused at that, and as if he’s run out of things to say here. ]

You’re not supposed to give personal details online. I did, but I think the rules are different when you’ve been kidnapped? I’m not going to say my parents names or address, but I can’t walk home.

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[ his lips quirk up again. tim's.. pretty adorable at this age. ]

You don't have to call me 'sir' if you don't want to, Billy's fine. And Wiccan was my code name back when I was in the crimefighting scene. I still use it sometimes, but I'm sort of semi-officially retired. [ all his crimefighting these days (at home) is in space, and it's against enemies of the state. ]

I-- [ yikes. okay, how are you going to address this, billy? ] Are you trying to go home, Tim?

Okay… Billy.

[ it’s said with that nervous little kid energy, a hodgepodge of inflated maturity at this boon and unease of ohmygosh at this liberty. ]

You’re retired?

[ Retiring early isn’t unheard of in Tim’s world, and Billy is currently inhabiting this nebulous adult range of 18-25 from the eyes of a 10-year-old. ]

Did you win and put everyone in jail? Why weren’t you in the Justice League? What city did you work in?

[ Tim has questions. None of which are the question he should be asking: how do you know the other me. All of them are blatant attempts to dodge to hide the answer. ]

I should get home before my parents call. They do that sometimes.

[ he can see your dodge a mild away, tim drake, but he's really trying not to scare you. ]

I'm from a different corner of the multiverse. We have the Avengers, not the Justice League. It's a pretty similar concept, though. [ behind him, a pot sails across the kitchen to settle on the stove. ] And I retired because I got married to the king of space. [ he grins briefly. ] .. Not all of space, but his empire is very big, and I don't get back to Earth that often. I still help when I can, but.. not all the time.

[ before his parents call. where the hell are his parents supposed to be if not at home? do they leave tim alone at this age?

he hesitates, a finger brushing one of his earrings absently, a line between his brows. ] Tim.. [ well.. tim's an extremely intelligent teenager, so he's probably also an extremely intelligent child. he doesn't want to scare him, but he also really doesn't want him trying to get to new jersey all alone. ] A lot of us, like you and me, are.. tourists here, kind of. The cities and people we know sometimes don't exist in this particular reality. [ a pause. ] But it's certainly worth checking. .. Have you ever teleported?

[ Tim’s eyes flick to follow the pot across the room. It’s so cool.

And he’s married to the king of space? How does that work?? ]

That means you’re a… prince? No, because if you were a girl, you’d be a queen so… you’re a king too.

[ The horror at having taken such a liberty. He’s a polite kid and knows better than that. ]

I can’t call you Billy. I don’t know what the rules are for space kings, sir - sire? And, no, I’ve never teleported. Can people teleport - can you teleport?

[ oh noooo, what a cutie. he tracks the interested gaze--someone likes magic, huh?--and waits with smiling patience as tim reasons through what he thinks billy must be called. ]

My title's Prince-Consort, [ he corrects gently, charmed. ] But I don't use it outside official business, and I promise you, I really do prefer to be called Billy.

[ that's not even a polite fib to make tim more comfortable. he's not totally sure he'll ever get used to the royalty thing, even if he and teddy rule for a hundred years. ]

I teleport all the time. In faaaact.. [ he drags it out, then trails off, tapping his earring again as if in consideration. ] I was thinking it might be easier and safer to teleport to New Jersey? And if we can't find your house right now, we could talk about what you'd like to do until you can get back home? [ god, is that going to spook him? they're strangers. but tim seems to like the magic, and he's clearly into superhero types, and billy really, really wants to get him off the street. ] You don't have to, of course. I'm not going to pressure you to do anything you're uncomfortable with. But maybe give it a little thought?

[ Someone likes any kind of superhero, and it’s sounding like Billy’s pretty close to one.

He could be a supervillain, but Tim thinks not. Supervillains, he reasons, do not do dishes. Not even with magic. ]

You can teleport all the way to Gotham?

[ So that’s a yes. He should probably make sure he’s not another crazy kidnapper. ]

This is going to sound mean, so I’m sorry, but you’re not famous like Superman. If you do anything funny, this is online. Everyone will know I went with you.

.. Well, I can teleport all the way to where Gotham is supposed to be. [ though he knows people have already established that gotham doesn't exist here. ] Could you find where it's supposed to be on google maps? [ .. do they even have google in tim's reality?

he circles a finger in the air, and the stove turns back off, the vegetables pack themselves away into the fridge, and the water in the sink turns off. he doesn't know how long they'll be away, so best not to waste water or risk burning the house down.

he huffs a little laugh, then, chin dipping in a nod. ] That's fair enough. [ .. didn't he see something about a superman being here? one thing at a time, though, billy. ] I'm going to come to you, okay? It may be a little startling, so I'll count down from five first. [ he holds up a hand, fingers folding down as he counts. ] Five. Four. [ blue sparks begin to drift in the air. ] Three. Two.

[ the video winks out just as blue energy coalesces a few feet away from tim, and billy folds down his last finger as the sparks fade. ] One. [ he locks his phone and tucks it away, smiling reassuringly. ] Hi again.

Yeah, I’m good at geography.

[ He can fill out all 50 states and their capitals, but it’s a strange time to brag about that.

When Billy appears in the alley, the jump is small but noticeable, despite the kind warning. There’s a difference between knowing “something” is coming and experiencing exactly what it is. It might not have been so noticeable, but he’d leaned forward to get a better look at the spectral light. He doesn’t fall off the dumpster, but he sounds a little breathless. ]

Hi.

[ A space-prince-superhero just teleported in to help him with a smile. He really can’t help the awe bursting out in a hushed breath. ]

That was so cool.

[ gosh. he knows he and teddy aren't ready to have kids together yet, but tim is so cute at this age that billy almost wants to have that conversation when he gets home. .. almost. ]

Thank you, [ he says, sincere, and steps closer, offering out his hand in case tim wants a little help getting down from the dumpster. ] It does come in pretty handy at times.

[ and then, because it's the middle of winter and this poor boy has been sitting in an alleyway in clothes that are extremely inadequate for the weather: ] Are you cold? [ he unwinds the scarf from around his neck--made of the usual impossible galaxy fabric he's fond of--and instead wraps it around tim's, fussing with it until it's tucked warmly around him. ]

[ He takes Billy’s hand - but only to make sure he doesn’t spin! - and jumps down to the ground. At this age, he stands but 4’3”, and Billy fairly towers over him. The leather jacket he has on is almost to his knees.

Tim looks nervously down the alley, where there’s a back door propped open slightly with a pipe; he’s so distracted with it that he just lets himself be swaddled with the scarf without too many traditional kid protests to be being bundled up. ]

I’m okay. The jacket covers my hands.

[ He holds up his hands like he has sweater paws. ]

Um. There’s another kid from Gotham here - he’s a superhero like you. He might want to go back, too, and I told him I’d wait here. I don’t want him to think I got snatched again. I know you’re already being generous, but… could we wait for Robin? He said he wouldn’t be long, and it’s been a while.

Edited 2023-01-05 05:28 (UTC)

Hm. [ he takes the little hands in his as if to inspect them, then squeezes them gently, releasing him again. ] You're pretty tough, huh? I'd be freezing.

[ the mention of another kid, though, earns a minute widening of his eyes, his glance following tim's to the propped-open door. they slide back to tim again a moment later, and his smile returns, small and reassuring. ]

Of course we can wait for Robin. [ there's another robin? since when? he thought tim was robin. is this a second tim? is it a title that anyone can use? does this one work for the same guy? (.. what the hell was the guy's name, anyway? he's animal-themed, isn't he?) ] If he wants to come along, the more the merrier. [ how is he going to convince a kid who's also a vigilante to come stay with him for a couple of days, anyway? he remembers very well how great he was at taking adults' advice as a teenager in a costume. ]

[Not long after Billy arrives, Jason comes back. The boy is only a few inches taller than Tim and judging by his suit, is certainly not the same Robin Billy knows.

He tenses up upon seeing Billy and mentally kicks himself for letting Tim be himself. He knew it was a risk but he had no idea if taking Tim with him while he investigated a shady hotel room would be much better]

Who are you?

[Him and Tim not knowing how they wound up in Central City and needing a way to get back is already serious enough. He's not about to let Tim get snatched away again]

This is Wiccan. He’s a superhero and a space prince.

[ Answering first seems like a good idea. There’s an unplugged parasocial relationship in play, although Tim doesn’t know the concept and Robin has no idea he’s got a fan. ]

His real name’s Billy, and he can take us to Gotham. He said it on camera on the internet, so I don’t think he’s a kidnapper. If he is, he’s a dumb one.

[ billy startles into a laugh at the irreverent comment, reaching up to tweak the scarf around tim's neck. ] I have been accused of being no thoughts, head empty sometimes, but you're right, I'd have to be pretty dumb to kidnap you.

[ he turns back to robin, then, brows lifting in mild alarm at the-- is that a speedo and a t-shirt? who is this batman guy and why is he dressing his partners like this? if they live in new jersey normally, it's cold in the winter.

he clicks his tongue softly, then flicks his hands, twisting them in a complicated gesture that sends rings of blue runes around them. ] Hold on, if we're going to spend a little time talking out here, let me just-- [ the rings expand, then dissolve in the air, and the alley warms around them into a comfortable temperature. ] You two might not be cold, but I'm a wimp.

[ he dusts a few last blue sparks off his hands, then smiles at robin. ] To clarify, I can take you to where Gotham is supposed to be in this world, to see if it even exists in this dimension. If it's not here, I-- I haven't been able to figure out how to locate our home realities yet, so I can't take you back to your native dimension. I'm working on it, though.

[ he glances back down at tim again, brows knitting once more, mouth pursing worriedly. ] If it's not there, we can talk about what's next, okay?

[Jason nods as he moves closer to Tim. He still doesn't quite trust Billy but the warming spell feels nice. And if Billy was a magic kidnapper, he could've easily used some other spell to snatch them away. Jason remains armed with his utility at least if he and Tim need to escape as well]

All right. Are you related to Zatanna?

[ Tim is much more openly mesmerized by the display and even goes so far as to try to touch one of the rings of runes, just to see what might happen.

He doesn’t say cooooool, as there is now someone closer to his age around that he would like to make a good impression on. Tim doesn’t think he can impress Robin, but he’d like to not be seen as a dweeb. ]

He kinda looks like Zatanna, but his world doesn’t have a Justice League. He told me.

[ Zatanna has black hair, Tim knows that much. This is said as an aside to Jason.

To Billy, he says with all the confidence in the world. ]

Gotham City is on the north side of the Delaware Bay, east of Metropolis.

[ the dissipating energy tickles tim's fingers-- milder than a static shock, an odd but pleasant sensation. a few sparks cling to his fingers before seeming to absorb into his skin. ]

I'm afraid I've never heard of Zatanna, [ billy admits apologetically. he knows how important it is to find something familiar in a strange place, and though he wishes he could provide that for the two of them, he's pretty sure it won't be happening. ]

I can't say I've ever heard of Metropolis, either, but.. let's see what we can do, huh? [ he pulls his phone back up and brings up the google maps app, then hands it down to tim so he can navigate to the general location. he knows that there won't be a gotham listed, but if tim wants them to check out the general location anyway, it can't hurt.

while he lets tim search, he glances back up at robin, lips quirking up at his reasonable suspicion. ] In my dimension, I was a crimefighter, too. Technically I was based in New York, but we traveled all over. I retired when I got married.

[Jason looks back at Billy, still considering him]

"We?" So you were part of a team? What were they like?

[ Taking the offered phone, Tim guides the map quickly to South Jersey. That’s the easy part.

He doesn’t find the one of the 3 biggest cities in the United States. That’s the first shock.

Noodles around with the phone, doesn’t find Metropolis over the bay in Delaware either. How do you lose two cities with millions and millions of people?

He knows how to get around Gotham very, very well. If the streets were there, he could take the map clear to his house without using the address. Tim has to find this river and that cove and think about posters he’s seen where the map of Gotham is made up of the names of the neighborhoods in different fonts.

If he were in his world, he would have correctly navigated quite close to his house. Jason would likely end up on the same area.

Tim has gone very quiet and still. He’s used to his parents not being home, but now his home is not home. It’s a lot to process, and the forewarning hasn’t helped. He holds the phone out with a soft word. ]

Here.

[ he starts to reply to robin, but tim has grown very quiet at his side. he offers the costume-clad boy a small, apologetic smile, turning his attention on the younger child. he can see the moment tim realizes there's no home to go back to here, and his heart breaks for him.

he takes the phone back with gentle fingers, tucking it away, then reaching with both hands, carefully cupping the boy's little face. ] That's okay, [ he says softly, thumbs stroking his temples lightly. ] Home might not be an option right this second, but you're not alone. [ he draws his hands back, but then offers one out, palm up. ]

Maybe we can sit down somewhere safe and warm, and we can talk about our other options? [ he glances from tim to robin, offering his other out to him. ] Robin can come with us to protect you if you're not really sure about me. I've heard he's pretty well-prepared for anything.

[Jason also clocked in on Tim's silence and appreciates Billy keeping him involved as the man tries to comfort Tim. Jason's also worried about not finding Gotham or Metropolis but with Tim already scared, Jason knows he has to keep a brave face. It's what Bruce would do]

Yeah! Don't sweat it. Stay close to me. If I can't find a way then Batman will. He'll have noticed that I'm gone so he'll be looking for me. You know how amazing he is.

[ Home might be an option now. It hurts to hear. Home is - home. It's where Tim knows that, no matter what, he'll be safe, warm, and fed. Billy's trying to be really nice about it, but it does underline how bad the situation is. His home won't be there. His parents might not be anywhere.

Nor Robin's, so Tim looks to him as he takes Billy's hand. He does know. Batman will find them. It's what he does. Especially with his partner here, he'll find Robin for sure, and they won't leave Tim behind. ]

Okay. I'll go if he goes and if you tell us about outer space.

[ "Us." Robin clearly needs to know as well. ]

[ tim is a tough little boy. he's being so brave and mature about it, and billy can honestly say he personally wouldn't have been if he'd been thrust into the same situation at this age. and god, robin. he's younger than billy and teddy had been when they'd joined the young avengers-- no wonder the avengers at the time had been so worried. so he gently squeezes tim's hand, then reaches to take robin's, squeezing his, too. ]

I'll tell you anything you want to know. [ around them, blue sparks like little flames begin to fill the air. ] And hopefully, Batman will find you two before you know it. [ energy swirls up, there's a weird pull like a moment of freefall, and as the energy fades away again, they're all in the middle of billy and tommy's warm little kitchen.

he presses both hands in his grip again, then releases the boys, flicking his hand instead to set the kitchen to moving again. a smaller pot rises out of the lower cabinets to set itself on the stove, the fridge opening so various things sail out and across the room. ]

I was starting dinner before I started talking to you, Tim. How about I get it going again, and in the meantime.. do you both like hot chocolate? [ he gently urges them toward a breakfast nook to sit, where a long gray, unusual looking cat is waiting for them, purring loudly. ] And this is George. He's friendly. --Neither of you are allergic to anything you know of, are you? Do you have anything you can't eat? [ for religious purposes or otherwise. ]

[Jason tried to keep an eye on both Billy and Tim as he held onto Billy. Once they all let go and Billy uses his magic to prepare food, Jason stares in awe]

Cooool. And yeah! Hot chocolate would be good. I'm not allergic to anything so I'm fine with whatever.

[Jason knows he shouldn't take food from strangers but these... were unusual circumstances and he was hungry. He can keep watching Billy or whatever spell he's cast that's preparing the food at least]

[ You can’t cry in front of your heroes. It’s much better to follow him closely like another Tim in Jurassic Park, wanting to sit in the same Jeep as Dr. Grant. ]

I’m okay too. My mom doesn’t keep kosher.

[ Tim’s parents are from different religions, and their adhere to either is nominal at best.

He watches the dance of dinner going on in the air with renewed interest. Billy might not be doing it as a distraction, but it’s certainly working. ]

Do you have spell slots?

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