13719/Black and Blue and Bat All Over

Black and Blue and Bat All Over
Date of Scene:	02 January 2023
Location:	Gymnasium and Pool - Wayne Manor
Synopsis:	Two guys, chillin' in a hot tub, because they're both vigilantes who got the crap beat out of them and hot water jets are good for sore, bruised muscles.
Cast of Characters:	Tim Drake, Bruce Wayne

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Tim Drake has posed:
    Some days you just need a jacuzzi. Like, a big one that you can really stretch out in, not the regular bathtub sized one Tim has at the Roost, in his private apartment (aka the "front facing" portion of the renovated theater). So here he is, wearing a pair of swim shorts and enough bruising across his torso that it almost looks like he's wearing a chest wrap.

    Per the report entered into the Bat computer, a couple nights ago one of the Italian mafia familias staged a trap for the cape that's been stalking them.

    Which wasn't Red Robin. Wrong place at the wrong time is, unfortunately, a hazard of the job, and sometimes your luck just runs bad. Not so bad that he suffered any life-threatening injuries, but Tim's gonna be off the field for a while.

    And that means time for him to catch up on some other busywork, maybe check up on some cold cases, etc etc. He has his laptop on the ground next to the jacuzzi, which probably isn't exactly the smartest thing ever, but he's probably water-proofed it to some level, right? ...Right?

    He does, at least, have a tray underneath it that raises it a couple inches off the ground. That's good.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"If Alfred sees you with your laptop there, we'll both get lectured." The deeper all-too-familiar voice of Bruce points out. It wasn't often that he found himself 'off the field' if only due to his own stubborn nature. This was certainly not a case of it either. He just used the jacuzzi prodigiously to ensure he healed quicker when he was bruised up.

Which he was. Bruises old and new mottle the skin of his bare chest from ribs down to the side of one hip where he was apparently smacked good and solid by something other than just fists. His own trunks are worn thankfully leaving any other potential injuries among other sights hidden away.

His approach pauses long enough to drop a huge fluffy towel on one of the nearby chairs. "Do you mind if I join you, Tim?"

Tim Drake has posed:
    Tim looks up from whatever on the screen had him previously enraptured. "Probably," he agrees, less than enthused. Then his voice brightens. "But what he doesn't know won't hurt him, right?"

    He shrugs one damp shoulder and returns to his previous position, arms folded over the edge of the jacuzzi to be used as a makeshift pillow. The state of Bruce's injuries are catalogued via peripheral vision, and then Tim, of course, nods. "Sure. I mean, it *is* your house."

    Upon a closer approach (and viewing from the right angle, as all of Tim's devices have privacy screens) it seems Tim is currently monitoring a training session back at the Roost on one half of the laptop's screen, while the other half is taken up by an investigation report of some kind.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Bruce Wayne gives a little 'hmm' in response to Tim. Of course it was his house. There's no argument there at all. He does seem a bit amused while adding, "It's also your house, and the others as well." With that obvious statement uttered he steps to the side of the jacuzzi to ease himself down in. There's an almost-hiss of air sucked between his teeth when the heat hits the first of those bruises at least until he settles in to sit properly on the bench opposite Tim.

Realizing he's exactly opposite he shifts to one side to allow the privacy screen filter to work. Even if he might already know most every thing going on inside the manor he can allow Tim a semblance of privacy regarding his own business.

"How's the team? Any new challenges you're finding regarding-" There's an almost awkward pause. Should he ask or is that sounding as if he presumes Tim would find issues? It was already mostly out so he fumbles the last word, "-Anything?"

Tim Drake has posed:
    There's a sympathetic wince from Tim as Bruce slips into the water. No doubt a similar reaction from him happened when he got here earlier, but they both know it's ultimately better in the end. A little pain to ease further aches is a worthy trade. Especially if it gets them back on the field faster.

    "Believe it or not, the team's all smooth sailing," Tim answers, either not realizing the implication of the pause or choosing to ignore it based on the genial tone of his reply. "A bunch of teenagers and young adults sharing a space with minimal interpersonal issues. Though I think it helps that many of us do have other places to call home," he adds, which is also an acknowledgement of what Bruce had said about the manor being his home as well.

    He taps at his keyboard carefully after wiping his hands off on a folded towel. "Um, how about you?" he asks after a slightly-too-long-pause. Likely he was debating if that was something he should even ask Bruce. The Batman, facing challenges? Hard to imagine. "Anything you want to rubber-duck at me?" He cracks a grin. The joke is that his last name is Drake. Yes, Tim thinks he's very funny.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
It's a joke not entirely lost on Bruce even if it wasn't one he himself might use. A little grin comes at the suggested pun. "I'm going out on a limb and going to assume you want to know why Talia is in Gotham." Or more importantly why she was allowed to join the Wayne family festivities during the NERF hunt. It wasn't something he'd discussed with any of kids so far. Maybe it was more on his mind than Tim's.

A hand lifts from the water to run a single time over his face enjoying the heat that it brings in passing. "I never could fully keep him away from his mother even before he was an adult. If I try to deprive them both of some kind of relationship I might drive him away unintentionally. We're also known for giving second chances if the individual is actually sincere."

This earns a great creasing of his brow in consternation. "-I admit my judgement with Talia has not always been the greatest in the past. I would appreciate it if you could tell me if I'm starting to 'step in it', as they say."

Tim Drake has posed:
    "Only a few strong guesses. She's trying to reconnect with Damian, right?" The "For good or ill" part of that sentence is left unsaid, but the implication is certainly there. Tim tends to assume the worst, if only because he'd rather be wrong and overprepared than wrong and underprepared.

    He shakes his head, though first he leans away from the computer to avoid droplets of water flying off the end of his hair and landing on it. "I think you're doing the best you can with the hand you've been dealt, but Talia should always be treated with caution. Whatever's motivating her may change in an instant and she could go right back to her old tricks," he says.

    Though then he winces slightly, aware that might have been a bit harsh. "For what it's worth, I think as of the last time I saw her, her intentions were... pure enough," is what he decides on throwing in to soften the blow.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Bruce Wayne dips his head knowingly while letting his eyes shut to mull over the situation a few moments. His jaw is set in a way that makes it obvious he's not at all as relaxed as someone in a jacuzzi should be. He never was very relaxed on such topics though. "Agreed. For now the best way to keep track of things is to allow it so that I can have some flexibility in keeping an eye on the situation. On her."

As a sudden change of topic he inquires, "How is your sister doing? I need to check in on her soon. I'm trying to be better. Her situation is a difficult one though."

Tim Drake has posed:
    That seems to be an agreeable decision to Tim, judging by the rapid up-down of his head. He doesn't have much more advice to provide, given how out of his depths he is in terms of Bruce's current situation.

    It is mildly concerning to think of Batman as having baby mama problems. Tim's face reflects this concern for a moment before it passes.

    "Phoebe? She's... I don't know. Putting on a brave face, but she desperately needs therapy." Cue Robin instinct to crack a joke, a sign of Tim's discomfort. "You know, even more than all of us do."

    He runs a wet hand through his hair, slicking his bangs back from his forehead. "You're right, though. I'm not sure difficult is even strong enough of a word. I worry about her all the time."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Bruce Wayne inhales deeply to brace himself for standing up from the hot water judging that he'd soaked long enough. Even if the topic of conversation might be one that he wanted to continue with on some level. "I should have stepped in to help sooner. She's already had enough people let her down. I'm not sure how to help without being seen as an interloper or potential threat."

A small nod is given to Tim thankfully. "Let me know if I can be of help. To either of you. There's enough of us covering Gotham these nights that I'm not obligated to commit all of my time to it." Which was to say he was aware he sometimes ignored the people around him in favor of it. It's a work in progress.

"Good catching up with you, Tim."