Chance encounters
Tim skid to a halt as he neared the large building. He picked up his board and slowed down, observing the bustle of the city. He spotted a couple buses offloading, perfect. He stashed the skateboard behind a dumpster before slipping around the crowd. They looked like highschoolers and there wasn't an obvious dress code. He just had to hope his ability to blend in was good enough to slip in with them, then he could separate off and try to hack into the building database, to see if it was even possible they could help him.
He thought he was doing good, at least. Even if he dropped out of school over a year ago. None of the teachers did a double take and the bored intern that was giving them a rundown of rules popped one of the paper green bracelets on his wrist just as they did all the other students. He did clock one of the students that kept looking over, but he hoped he stayed there with his two friends. Kid looked rough, maybe he could gaslight him if it came to it, he learned from the best after all. Bruce was a master at manipulating others, he learned that first hand on a multitude of occasions, and he had learned each time. A cherished gift from his father figure that he would hold close and pull from if needed.
The group started to move in and Tim followed the flow, ducking his head down as he took advantage of his slightly shorter than average height. He didn't see the kid that kept staring at him so he let his guard down ever so slightly, still aware, but allowing himself to relax into the crowd. Once inside he made his way to the outskirts of the crowd, trying to slip away slowly, trying to disappear into the shadows. He was almost there when suddenly a girl popped up in front of him, arm blocking his path.
“Who are you?” her voice casual, but threatening. Disinterested yet so very there.
He looked up at the rather tall girl with her curly dark brown hair and darker skin. Mentally making a note of her face, she was one of the ones by the kid who kept staring at him.
“What do you mean? We've been in the same class all year” Tim kept his heart even, voice flat, and eyes held on hers.
“Bullshit, I've never seen you before. What are you doing sneaking in here, hm? Trying to scope us out? Threatening the asshole owners? I mean I really don't care, but don't lie to me”
“I know I'm mostly online now, but this is a little over the top for you. Don't you remember we were in organic chem together? I sat three seats to your left and forward one row?” Based of her attitude he assumed she was a back of class kind of girl, he hoped he didn't have it wrong. That was an integral part to his lie, after all.
“That was last year, I don't remember seeing you” she dropped her hand to her hip instead of trapping him in.
“I just told you I'm mostly online now. I had some personal issues but as an online student they still invite us on field trips, something about trying to integrate us” he waved his hand, trying to match her casual attitude.
She narrowed her eyes at him, “then you won't mind me asking the teacher to verify?”
“Of course not, go right ahead, but also the group is leaving and I would quite like to join them. I'm hoping to score an internship here this summer, then hopefully a job” he was going to call her bluff, besides, if she did go to the teacher he could disappear by the time she was gone.
She watched him a moment more before finally relaxing, though he did not miss how her eyes still lingered. “fine. But I'm watching” she moved her fingers between her eyes and him before going back over to her friend group, where the one with brown hair had his face burrowed in his palms before giving her arm a gentle smack and a low conversation. The slightly heavier set one in the group looked over at him, offered a small smile and wave, before guiding the other two away.
Tim let out a small puff of air, he would have to work quickly to avoid her again, or anyone in that small group.
It wasn't long before he found a break and slipped off, keeping his feet light and his body language casual as he slipped off to the bathroom, or that was the excuse he was going to use. He needed to access the building's networks with limited resources. Only having the programs on his phone. He just hoped it was enough. Hacking was much more Barbra's specialty, not to say he wasn't good at it, no he was actually quite skilled himself, but this was a different ball park. He didn't know if they were more advanced here, if his programs would even be compatible, if it was even within the realm of possibility. And worse yet, what if he failed? Would they arrest him? punish him? Public execution? There were so many unknowns, it made his anxiety claw it's way up. Maybe he should have stuck with the group, seen if the tour gave him the information he needed. But that meant being around that girl, walking on thin ice already with his shallow lies and deceits.
“You must be with Midtown, awfully far from the tour now aren't we?”
Tim froze and looked up, pulling his best sheepish look at the older well dressed man. “I am, I was heading to the bathroom when I got distracted by your research here. It really is ground breaking stuff” he offered, hoping to pull off that sheepish, empty headed nerd facade. He had years of masking, of matching others mannerisms and speech patterns. He just hoped he guessed on a correct one to match the situation.
“Hm I see, well the bathrooms were right back by group, I suppose it is only natural that you ended up here on your way”
Shit they were? “Sorry, sir” Tim rubbed the back of his neck in the same way he had seen Duke do when he was admitting to Bruce about how he messed something up. An act that must have been linked to why Duke never got screamed at, never got the silent treatment, at least not from what Tim saw. Maybe there was something else that made the other teen different from him, something that made Bruce more understanding to him. Maybe it was being a meta in a city where that was basically unheard of? Maybe Bruce just liked Duke more? Enough to give him actual gifts for his birthday rather than a puzzle to solve.
Nope, later Tim problem to worry about his crumbling family dynamics. Remember, he had to get home, they surely would be ripping apart Gotham at this point looking for him, right?
‘ You sure about that? You think they look at you and truly miss you? ‘
Hmm, maybe he did need more sleep if he was hallucinating again. Maybe he needed to be back on some medication with how often it has been happening lately.
‘ I'm just trying to protect you ‘
“ uh huh, sure” Tim grumbled under his breath, at least they weren't visual. Auditory hallucinations were tolerable. Visual made him have to question everything. Though he was pretty sure he slept last night? He didn't remember waking up, but surely he got at least a good few hours in.
“What was that?”
Oh, right, the guy he was talking to. “Sorry, sir. I will just head back now, I was just distracted by your ground breaking research into chemical engineering. I mean leading edge, serious cool stuff going on here. Especially the chemical engineering, with the rate you are advancing I wouldn't have to worry about ever getting sick again” Tim could bullshit, he had a near photographic memory full of little bits he picked up, and he used that to his advantage here. Animated walking around as he talked about some of the more intense chemical makeups and formulas the company was using, pulling from his own knowledge, though it did concern him that some of the formulas were looking just a tad too familiar. They had to be different though, they were all slightly off from the fear toxin and Joker gas chemical formulas long ingrained in every bat in case they were exposed. It almost looked like they were mixing them with a bio component? Later Tim would have to look more into it. He had to get back away from this person, who looked like he was probably a higher up. Someone who could easily tell his lies or even just arrest him for trespassing.
“I'm impressed, you know your stuff. Have you been thinking about your future job opportunities?” the man walked after Tim, slowly blocking his path back out of the lab. “You know, I started Oscorp to be a leader in the industry, and I get the feeling you have a bright future ahead of you. Tell you what, I'll forget about your little wondering, but when this little summer internship fair is done with your school, after you spend a day at each of the major leaders, you come back here. You will see that they are beneath us in both access to technology and innovation” he pulled out a card, offering it over.
“Oh wow, thank you, sir” Tim gave A polite little bow, happy to be able to finally break the eye contact he was forcing himself to hold. “I appreciate the offer, and I will let you know once we finish off what I decide” is that what the school was doing? He supposed it was summer time, so schools typically were not in session. But an internship extravaganza? Maybe he should hack into the school and make himself a student, that would be a great way to see each of the buildings. Though, that ran a higher risk with that girl already on him.
No, it wasn't worth the risk, he would find another way in. Besides, from what he could see this place was much more bio weapon and chemistry focused, not exactly the tech and multidimensional travel focused that he needed.
He watched as the owned considered him, catching the slight downturn of his mouth, which made his anxiety spike. But he kept his breathing even and his posture relaxed.
“Of course, you won't find anything more state of the art than here. Now go back to your class and don't let me catch you again”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir” Tim ducked his head and quickly went back to where the class was, falling in step for the rest of their tour while trying to avoid the nosy girl or any direct attention in general.
___
Oscorp was a wash, even if they potentially had the tools he would need something much quicker than they could provide. Now that it was nearing dusk, he opted to grab some food to eat before going to take more pictures. Sunset and early night were prime hero hours, he just hoped he could catch some. Maybe the elusive Spiderman because apparently the newspaper had beef with him and their regular photographer stopped delivering. Leaving a void perfect for Tim to fall into. He perched himself up on a roof and kicked his feet over the edge as he ate his chicken tenders that he picked up. They had gone cold by the time he found a safe spot to perch, but that's ok. He had survived off worse before. Far worse things than cold chicken tenders. It was just that he expected them to be warm, and messing with that made them taste gritty, made them taste like he was licking the sidewalk. He remembered Janet always reprimanding him for being picky as he forced down another bite.
“Don't be ridiculous, Tim. It's edible, Tim. You should be happy we provide, Tim” he grumbled as he forced down another bite. “don't be fussy, Tim. You should be grateful, Tim” he forced down another bite and rested his chin on his knee, pulling his leg to his chest.
‘ it's ok, Tim, you can get something else to eat. You still have a few dollars, maybe try that gas station? Prepackaged is much more predictable ‘
Tim groaned and closed his eyes. Maybe he should just sleep up here, that should help with the weirdly helpful voice in his head, but then he would have to wait a full other day to get the photos, which means two days to actually sell them and get more money.
‘ Absolutely not, young man. No sleeping on edges, you can fall and get hurt ‘
“Yeah yeah… I'm going” Tim pushed up and adjusted his camera, checking the settings before leaving the last two tenders. Some wildlife could at least enjoy them. He had a mission, after all. And with the cost of living here it was growing more dire.
___
Tim stuck to his high perches and tried to catch any hero like movement. He let his eyes flick over the alleys down below occasionally, just incase there was someone in need. While in Gotham most People tended to hide away at night when not up to anything, it seemed here the city never slept. The streets were less busy but still teaming with life. He got a few photos of some guy in a white cloak, framing him with the rising moon and the city skyline making it look like he glowed. He didn't know any of the heroes here, but the photo was nice so he hoped it would at least catch him a good penny. He would also use it to start his notes of the local hero affiliations. Something to keep his mind active.
He tore his eyes away as he heard a commotion from down below. Some guy with a gas mask monologuing to a group of scared, most likely homeless based on appearance, individuals. The guy wore a jacket with a little Oscorp logo embroidered onto the chest. If it was someone with access to chemicals, this probably wasn't good. He didn't even have a mask to filter whatever they were cooking up. But he couldn't stand around and do nothing.
He was a hero, he was Red Robin, and he needed to help, even if this wasn't his universe, his Gotham, his anything. He stood up, ignoring how fuzzy the movement made him feel. Maybe he should have eaten more.
___
Red forced himself to front quickly, A wide smile pulling on his face as he cracked his knuckles. He had a lot of frustration to vent out, and this would be the perfect opportunity. Besides, he could actually figure out what this asshole was threatening others with, figure out what was in the vial he was holding. A test more likely than not, but that was fine. Red could deal with him after he asked his questions. For now, more beating. He positioned himself and dropped down, tucking and rolling on impact to lessen his own injuries. “Hey asshole!” He called out as the man turned around.
“Oh goody, more target practice! Oh I've been itching to see what I can do and you, you Just gave me a bigger pull!”
“Fucking crazy bastard” Red growled as he jumped off the wall to divert the guys attention, swinging a strong legged kick at his skull. “Get out of here” he turned to the two others, they looked to be around Tim's age, not quite children but not adults either. It made anger flare up that he used to swiftly punch the guy again, knocking the gun from his hands before he could even flock the safety off. “Preying on God damn children?” Red etched to do more, but he had to get some answers. He positioned himself to sit on the guy's chest, pinning his wrists with his feet and enough pressure to make his hands go numb.
“What the hell are you testing!”
“I can show you! Oh it's quite marvelous, it will bring even The Avengers to their knees” the guy tried to squirm before seeming to think of something. He bucked his hips up, almost dislodging Red just out of the unexpected motion, before a green gas filled the area.
Red jumped back but it was too late, whatever he used had doused him, and the asshole had a mask. He grabbed them by the collar, forcing them back into the concrete with a sickening crack. The gas was already dissipating and Red didn't feel different, but that meant nothing. It could be a slow acting poison, or a bioweapon. Tim could be dying because this asshole decided he wanted to play big bad villain. “What did you use?”
“you… it should be working!” he slammed them off the ground again, ignoring the burst of blood from there skull.
“what was in that?”
“i-it is supposed to attack-” and the guy got cut off as a burst of red sprayed out from where his head used to be, a swipe of a Katana drawing Reds eyes back up, rising with his anger.
He swiftly pushed himself off the corpse, balling his fists up as he took in the guy in red and black. Red leveled the other… vigilante? villain? With his best bat glare ™. The person had possibly more guns than Jason did strapped around him and the two sharp katanas he used to just decapitate the person he was TRYING to interrogate. “I wasn't done with him” he pushed out between gritted teeth, anger bubbling up.
“Sorry baby bird, couldn't have you tainting those hands with filth” the odd person said as he strapped and sheathed the katanas.
“Don't call me that” Red hissed out, tightening his grip on his own weapons. “I have killed before, his blood wouldn't have tainted anything. Now who are you?” He demanded as the other person seemed to stare off a moment before bouncing and outstretched a hand.
“Names Pool, Deadpool. Nice to finally get to meet one of the newest additions to this universe. I kept getting teased by Peter with promises to meet Jason but Tony, you might know him as Iron Man? Or maybe asshole billionaire Number 1. Regardless, thinks I'm a bad influence and didn't want me around the tower. Or maybe the author kept forgetting about adding me in and didn't want it to feel forced” he shrugged and dropped the hand back to his side as he realized Red wasn't going to take it.
SMART KID
PROBABLY DIDNT WANT TO TOUCH YOU
Oh shoosh, Wade wasn't going to let his fun little voices ruin his moment to shine. After all, who knows how often he will be added now that there is a whole new cast of characters. Maybe he could weasley his way in more now that there is less of an overarching villain plot going on. “Wait. Did we get to that plot point yet?” Wade thought allowed before dragging his attention back to the individual who still very much so looked like he was going to kill him.
“Deadpool? Seriously? How fucking unoriginal. You're just a Deathstroke ripoff. Or wait, was it Red Tool? Yeah add some dumb ass saw blades your basically the same, both a fucking tool” Red slowly eased his fighting stance, only enough to give the illusion that he was relaxing, but he new better, knew that if he let his guard down then they would get hurt. He couldn't let that happen, Robin and Tim were already getting all sorts of soft. He had to protect them.
“Oh a potty mouth on this one” Wade shifted his own stance, opening himself up to help ease the other. “Relax, I was only paid to take out that one, not you”
“You're not a threat to me, I could disarm you easily. Your stance is too slack and your movements are limited. You are too reliant on your weapons”
“Well, I don't know about you, but all this killing made me famished, what do you say we go grab something to eat?”
Red thought about it a moment, rolled the idea around in his mouth. It was stale and tasted of ash, but he knew the body would require food at some point and soon. He could always drop back, but he still needed to protect them, to protect Robin from the bloodshed, to protect Tim from getting hurt again. Maybe he could convince Carrie? She was good at taking care of the body, good at doing the things he was not. He did not trust this person around Junior, he seemed too unstable, and lord knows that's not what the other needed… though maybe it wasn't the worst thought? JJ still missed his mama and well… this idiot was actually pretty close. No, he couldn't trust him. Not yet, not ever.
“Tell you what” Red finally forced out, becoming aware of how much time had passed in his mind. “If you can beat me in a battle, I'll let you take me to that seedy bar down the road so I can get a drink and something to eat”
“Now were talking”
ISN'T HE LIKE 3?
OH LETS SEE IF WE CAN STAB HIM! HE HAS THAT SPECIAL TRAINING
WE CAN'T KILL A KID
UNLESS?
“We aren't killing a kid” Wade rolled his eyes before looking back at the teen. “How old are you?”
“Twenty one, and I'm not planning on letting you even get the chance to kill me, but I can not promise the same for you” Red shifted, cold calculated eyes taking in Wade for a moment, studying him.
“See? Not killing a kid” Wade pointed out, both to the voices in his head and the audience over his shoulder. “Minimal blood shed, pinky promise” he then turned back to Red, “Alright, I win and I get to take a child to a bar, what if you win?”
“If I win I get the pleasure of killing you, and you stay out of my way”
“Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Can I get a name for the betting pool? We have Wade over here in my corner, complete with his best friends yellow and white”
YOU MEAN ONLY FRIENDS?
NO, HE HAS SPIDER BABY AND ALL THOSE HUNKS OVER AT X MANSION
DO THEY COUNT?
“Yes they count and I take great offense on their behalf” Wade huffed before turning back to the other just to notice he was gone. “Awe shit, he did the shadow thing, didn't he?” He idly spun his katannas, they reminded him of those colorguard members, except instead of flags fluttering in their wake it was blood. Oh what a beautiful sight. He was too busy imagining spilling blood with his weapons and twirling it around to the beat of a song to notice Red jumping down on him until legs wrapped around his neck and he was being flipped over and face slammed into concrete.
“Oh now the party is starting” Wade spit out some blood and broken his neck to escape the kids hold. “That's going to be annoying… woops” he shrugged and lifted his head back up manually with one hand while the other positioned his blade at Red. “So at the bar, do you want juice or milk? I will warn you, they might laugh if you order milk, or start a bar fight, but that at least will be fun”
HE'S WINNING THIS, YOU ALREADY BROKE YOUR OWN NECK DUMBASS.
BUT WHERES THE FUN IN THAT? OH IF ONLY THIS WAS LOGAN, OR SCOTT, OR KEVIN, OR ACTUALLY ANY ADULT. WE COULD MAKE IT SO MUCH SEXIER
YOU'RE UNBELIEVABLE
“And you are both distracting. Let me fight in peace, it's what the readers expect right? A little action spread across their superhero themed book?” Wade rolled his eyes before looking back up at Red, who was giving him a weird look. “Oh I forget you can't hear them too. Don't worry, I tried the whole patch hospital thing, ain't no getting rid of them” Wade shrugged slightly.
“What the hell are you on about? Your giving me a headache” Red leaned back on his heels, crossing his arms over his chest. “Why did you kill him” he jerked his head to the dead body.
“Oh I had a hit out on him, aparently he has been smuggling something from his boss. I don't really question it, it's just part of the job”
“From Oscorp, right?”
“Classified”
“Your attrocious”
“But loveable?”
“Nope, just a headache. I was trying to figure out what he was doing with those bio weapons, but it doesn't matter now I suppose” Red was bored and annoyed. He didn't have weapons to truly kill the mercenary, he would have to fix that later, even if it was something that could be used for less violent acts, Robin would at least appreciate that. “New deal, I kick your ass and you pay with the money you made from killing that bastard?”
Wade tilted his head back and forth, contemplating the offer. “How about I pay and give you a portion of the profit. Then when you get a weapon we can have a rematch?”
Red stared at him a moment, a challenge, a dare. But eventually caved, the body needed to eat and he needed a drink. Besides, that money could help support Tim a bit longer. “Fine, but once we get in you leave me the hell alone. I don't want you sitting near me at the bar”
“Deal!” Wade perked up at the offer, just happy that he didn't have to kill this kid.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FUN, THOUGH.
Red kept his eyes on Deadpool, not letting the man out of his sight even as he hummed to an unknown tune and danced around the sidewalk. He was annoying, arrogant, an asshole. But he wouldn't let his guard drop. Couldn't let his guard drop. He needed to remain present until the body was fed and cleaned, and ideally tucked into a bed somewhere.
This was utterly ridiculous.
There was something about this crazy bastard that eased him, but Red was not going to analyze that part. No, he would use him for some food, to get a little tipsy, and enough money for a hotel room for the week. That should be more than enough time for Tim to figure something out. That's all he was here for, nothing more.