Tonnage

Checkup.

>>

Tom: Orphan? Are you and Spoiler okay? I'm worried and I don't think I want to wait until Monday to find out if you two are alright. And how is Red Robin? He looked pretty beat up when I pulled him off the line. Is he going to be okay? Please get back to me soon, and take care.

R.Robin: I'm fine, but thanks for asking. I'll be off the rotation for a while though. Broke my leg pretty good, I'll probably have the cast off just in time for the commencement of my annual attempts to avoid school as the unbelievably boring drivel that it so much is.

Nightwing: It's not that bad, you'll survive. Hi, Tom! We haven't met yet, unfortunately. All these little rapscallions have been keeping you from me. So mean.

Spoiler: That is a blatant lie. We don't keep him from you, you're just so snowed under by that new weapon investigation in Blud you've hardly been around. That is not our fault. Oh, and Orphan and I are fine Tom. Thanks to you. We'd like to get your take on how things went, on the off chance it can help our investigation. But mostly? Just thanks. That was a tight one. We never say die. But that one was not good.

Robin: Indeed, thanks. I still say we probably would have worked it out, but your assistance was timely, efficient, and appreciated.

Orphan: (Typed Into Phone.) Yes, thank you, Tom. Unless you have made other plans, we'll be there for the sparring this evening. Whatever Penguin is up to, he's won this round and we'll need to wait for him to pop up again. So we have the time.

Tom: O-okay. I didn't know this was a group chat.

Oracle: It wasn't at first, but I fixed that. You may not be one of us, Tom. You may not be close family. Yet. But you are definitely on the tree somewhere and we'll allow a spiritual second cousin into the 'fun' chat. We have a patrol chat that is supposed to be much more serious. But this one is for entertainment and keeping up with each other, you are most welcome into it.

He glances at the clock and grimaces.

Tom: I wasn't expecting anybody tonight, and we're shopping tomorrow. Eat before you come I guess. I don't have anything for you tonight.

Q: That is quite all right, Mr. Wierzowski. I will send them along with enough to feed the lot of you. I handle many of the lesser tasks for Batman and his team, it will be my pleasure to see to it that they and yourself are well taken care of on these nights. And from an old man, thank you for saving the children. I should have something ready and packaged before six, if one of you could stop by to get it on your way out that would be most appreciated. Now, I am quite busy. I have said my piece and I have many tasks to accomplish, so will leave you to your socializing.

Tom: Okay. Thanks? I don't really know what to say. I wasn't expecting this.

Spoiler: You should get used to it. You're a good guy, Tom. No matter what happened after the accident. And people are going to figure that out. I'm just glad we found you first.

Robin: Point of order, that was me. Not we.

Jay-Bird: Oh, deal with it pint size.

Jay-Bird: Jaybird? Really Oracle?

Oracle: It had to be changed, and you didn't have any suggestions when I e-mailed. Change it yourself or live with it.

Orphan: (Typed Into Phone) Ignore them, Tom. You should know that Martian Manhunter and Superman would like to take you to the Watchtower to put you through your paces. Initially, I'll admit we were not happy about that, mostly because your plate is pretty full already.

Spoiler: Yeah, but then we got to thinking about it and if we are serious about setting you up with a suit for rescue and hazmat work, that's all stuff we'll need to do anyway, and there we can get it done by pros. They'll probably offer to fabricate the gear as well. You aren't a member, but the ones that pay for the lion's portion of all this are pulling hard for you. Wish I could tell you why, but just know you have friends in 'high' places. Get it? High, Watchtower?

...

Tom: How would I even get there? Guys, you're talking crazy. They don't even make a seat that'll fit me. Too big for everything. I assume your friends in high places were at the Gala? I... I wasn't doing that to make anybody feel obligated.

Spoiler: You guys suck, there was nothing wrong with my joke.

Nightwing: We know, Tom. That's a lot of the reason why we're doing this.

Robin: There was everything wrong with your joke.

Orphan: (Typed Into Phone) Spoiler, stop making me agree with Robin.

Jay-Bird: When are you all getting together? I have a lot on my plate, but I might stop by for an hour.

Nightwing: Ooh, yeah! Me too! Been wanting to meet you since the Croc thing at the scrapyard. Heard about you telling Batman to get off the property. I don't think I've ever laughed that hard unless it involved Beast Boy, Cyborg, and a cheesy movie marathon. Anyway, Tom? They use a transporter. Think Sci-Fi teleportation type thing and you're on the money. They can get you there and back home if that's what you want.

Robin: Yes. This is all contingent on your preferences. I have already made my displeasure at what I believe to be their attempted gross mishandling of the situation known.

Tom: Huh? What did they want?

Orphan: (Typed Into Phone) They were talking about just tossing you into crisis situations. Power testing, and then just dropping you on problems.

Spoiler: I hope you don't mind too much, but we told them a little about your situation and why that would be a bad idea until you were more secure. Stable. You know, in your life.

R.Robin: Now that we finally got them thinking I expect some kind of further assistance to be coming your way soon. Might just be this trip to the station for real testing and gear, but you weren't wrong mentioning the Gala. I'd expect contact soon from those quarters as well.

Nightwing: I do know one thing. When I get there? I'm on Tom's team. He needs to learn how to work with a partner, and I need to find out what it's like to have a mobile buddy I can bounce off of to nail people from strange angles and higher-than-normal approaches. This is going to be great!

R.Robin. Looks like I broke my leg at the best time ever. Good luck everybody.

Tom: P... Partner?!

>>

Tom isn't sure who does the cooking for the Bats, but the man knows what he's doing, make no mistake. He's not a hundred percent sure what this deep dish, baked casserole kinda thing is but it is absolutely delicious.

“So, if I was going to go to the Watchtower for this, would I get a chance to look down at Earth? Almost worth it to go just for that.”

Tom looks wistfully around the room at his sparring partners, who all give him various degrees of knowing grin.

Nightwing, who had both shown up and partnered with Tom for a while, is the one who answers with an enormous smile on his face that has been maintained since the end of the spar. “It's an epic view. No question there. Honestly, Tom, it's your life. You are welcome to live it as you wish, assuming laws are followed and such. But just because of who you are, you are going to have problems. Same kind of thing that Beast Boy deals with, and Cyborg. Starfire didn't have it as bad, being female and attractive makes up for a lot, but she got it too. You say you aren't a hero. I kind of agree with the kid you rescued at the Gala on that one, though I can understand your problems with the system as well. But, Tom? The issue is that the little girl is right on the money in at least one respect. It isn't the way you are viewing yourself that is going to cause you problems. It's the way other people do.”

He sighs, and it occurs to Tom that this man is maybe eight to ten years older than anybody here except possibly Jason.

“The problem, Tom, is that so far? Penguin considers you an annoyance to be removed, Black Mask either a rival or a potential goon that he'd like to recruit. Croc is an Arch-Nemesis at this point if he's even still alive. I get why you did it, and thanks for telling us. But... Brutal. If he's alive, he won't forget. And then Dent. Who you hurt badly enough that he'll hate you more than Batman by this point.”

Tom is staring at the floor. He knew all of this but hearing it all laid out like this? He doesn't have to wonder so much why Lou is thinking about an extended vacation.

“It's your life, Tom. But I genuinely believe that closer ties to the League could solve a lot of problems for you. The question is whether you think they'll solve more than they cause. And unfortunately, I don't have an answer for that.”

Tom considers. Then sighs. Standing, he dumps the paper plate he'd been using in the trash, along with the plastic picnic-ware.

“I'm still not sure I'm excited about running down criminals, but it'd be better to have what I need if it becomes required to swat me toward a disaster. When can we get that done?”

Nightwing offers a friendly smile. “It's a twenty-four-hour operation. But it's late here. How about we make a plan for tomorrow around ten? I'll call some people and make sure they're ready for us if that works for you?”

“Can we hold off until noon? I need to go shopping in the morning with my uncle Lou. And who all would be going?”

Nightwing nods. “Sure, that shouldn't be an issue. And the Watchtower is huge, as long as we call ahead any of us can go. The only reason to even bother calling is that they'd rather not have the place full of spectators during a crisis, so they try to keep that number reasonable at any given time, and aside from Batman none of us are members except myself. Even I am something of an exceptional case if I'm honest. But I'm on the rolls and I can invite you up for this, no problem. Who's interested?”

Of course, all hands go up.