14; voice;

[slingshots]

You'd think you'd get used to being jerked around universes, but it just never sets in right.

[ why, what a cool and laid-back sounding newcomer this is! well, she doesn't sound all that new, but the NV signal is definitely a different one than last time. ]

We're still on 2012, right? I'm hoping not. Music doesn't start sounding good 'til at least 2025.

[ encrypted to Sherlock Holmes: ]

You talked to the last me, right? 'Cuz that so wasn't me.

[ awkward... pause... ]

And... um, hi. Busy?

Comments

voice; batcryptions

[kal_el]

Maybe not so little. [ He can almost hear how her voice has matured, but it's still not set in stone. ] And you know I'm never too busy for family.

permavoice; batcryptions!

[slingshots]

[ wow that's strange to hear. nice! but strange.

after a pause: ] Figure that'll still be true in about 45 minutes?

[kal_el]

Without a doubt. Just don't be surprised if I'm not in color. You remember the way to the cave? I'll see if I can convince the computer to clear you again.

[slingshots]

Think so. [ a beat ] —Yeah, I remember.

Forgot we had one of those...

[kal_el]

[ He hears that, but chooses not to say so out loud. They can talk about it later. ]

Forty-five minutes then, give or take. Give me a yell when you're close.

[slingshots]

Right. See you then.

[ And it's 42 minutes, to be specific, two of which are spent just watching the entrance from outside. And, of course, from many feet above the ground. It's so surreal. She remembers it so well, but it's been so long. How can the calendars only say 6 months?

Eventually, quietly and almost under her breath: ] Hey, Clark, here's a yell.

[ And she remembers, belatedly, that maybe she should have given some warning for the new outfit. ...Oh well. ]

[kal_el]

[ Clark is inside before then, attacking the computers, which admittedly he still hasn't gotten the hang of. Everything is in Kryptonian, which is fine, but when it comes to cave security, it was never meant to be something Clark could fiddle with, albeit most things had been released to him.

But he's got it so the silent siren won't go off, which is good for his ears at least, and he opens the door onto the fake mine-shaft at her words.

And if he's taken aback by the change in costume he doesn't show it. ]

Looking sharp. Come on in.

[slingshots]

[ If it'd been weird to see the Cave, it's even weirder to see Clark. She just stares for a second, then two— and finally comes the smile, and even then obscuring mask can't dampen the warmth of it. ]

Thanks.

[ She stands up on her tree branch and steps out into empty space without hesitation. Either she lands lightly and unharmed, or he catches her. Win/win, as far as she's concerned. ]

[kal_el]

[ No trees, Robin. It's an old mine. Under street level. Not a tree in sight. There's no disguising Clark's pleasure at seeing her, though, stepping back and closing the door after her once she's inside.

The cave is in darkness. Even the computer monitors, usually bright, are shut down, and the case where Bruce's costume is kept is unlit too. Everything is quiet. Still. Empty. ]

Wish I could say things were great.

[slingshots]

[ it's the spirit of a tree branch that she's perched on, okay, by which I totally mean like a lampost or something. She's glancing around as soon as she's inside, and finding things... a little eerie. ]

How long's he been gone?