DIRK: [ARISE]

[evenindeath]

Of all the places to wake up, 'dumpster' had not actually been in Dirk's top thirty list. Of course, once he realized that's where he was he considered that had been an error in judgement on his part. It was where he belonged and thus should have been number one on his list.

"HAL?" he said, his voice a raw and rough croaking to his own ears, but his sunglasses skewed on his face showed nothing but the sky above, a bright night lit by a moon and too much light pollution from the city around him for any stars. He brought an aching arm up to right his sunglasses and give them a tap, the the bare bones of his Heads Up Display on them became visible, flickering in and out of focus. "HAL?" he asked again, but there was no answer. It said he was offline with no signal available.


The past - however long it was came back to him in flits and flashes, what lead them here. Him here, anyway. Finding our that what his friends went through was a beta run for the whole thing, that it had already failed once and they were an attempt to restart under more favorable circumstances. That their game was a null game too in different ways but unfortunately just enough overlap that the plan to make a working game between the two of them wasn't going to work. What was there left to try, a third attempt where they would likely once more end up with more problems and no solutions?

Dirk had been careful who he proposed the plan to and how he said it. Jake was the driven type, charismatic - it didn't matter he couldn't figure out how to pull it off himself, if he suggested it people would be more likely to listen, to try.

"Do you think there's a way to get out of the game entirely?" Dirk had asked Jake in what passed for late one night on a meteor where they'd taken refuge, time and day having no meaning.

The question had been posed seemingly carelessly, but it had stuck in Jake's mind like Dirk knew it would. Soon enough they were all working together on 'Jake's' new plan to try and find a universe beyond the games entirely.

There was no guarantee it would work. No guarantee they'd go to the same place, or even... anywhere.

But what other option did they have?


And now Dirk was here, in a dumpster.

It smelled terrible in a weirdly unfamiliar way to him. It was the kind of terrible that came from cramped living conditions of too many people in one place, and he had literally never experienced that before. When he managed to push himself up and crawl out of it (and get all the ... leavings... off of himself) just looking to the other end of the alleyway where cars went back and forth gave him pause as he thought that every single one of those had at least one person in it. Watching for just a couple minutes, more people walked by without a glance in his direction than he'd ever seen in one place in his whole life.

Wherever they'd landed, it wasn't his home. Not when he knew it.

Distracted by that utter culture shock, he managed to miss the sound of someone coming the other direction until they spoke.

"Hand over your money - anything you have on you," the gravely voice ordered, and Dirk turned slowly to see the barrel of a gun staring him down, and attached to it a man that could either be twice his age or a little younger with a hard life behind him. Dirk was guessing the second was more likely.

"Are you fucking deaf? Hand. Over. Your. Cash. Fucker!" the man repeated when Dirk just continued to stare at him.

Oh, this? He'd seen this in plenty of movies. He knew how to handle this.

"Yeah, no," Dirk said, with a careless flick of his wrist his clothing glitched and blurred into a different but similar set, his pointed sunglasses doing the same to be a fully face covering gas mask. The people who fought crime always wore masks in those stories, right? From the same place his new clothing came from he drew his katana.

He was used to enemies that put up a fight to someone on his level, and maybe would be over-estimating this guy's abilities.

Comments

[lazarusinred]

There was the unacknowledged fact that an ordinary human would have not preformed like either of them. Jason's eyes flicked over Dirk's features compiling his mental impressions. Orange eyes were not the strangest thing Jason had seen in a person of, shall we say, enhanced abilities.

Dirk's stare was indifferent, but Jason's was challenging. It was what he knew best.

"So, fellow human, what should I call you and should I be worried about you?"

[evenindeath]

That challenge in Jason's stare made Dirk want to draw his sword again, to start the fight back up - to do anything with the way it made his heart pound and the adrenaline come flooding in again.

He said he'd tell his story if this guy won, so sure.

"Dirk Strider," he said. He didn't bother to put his hand out for a shake, but they were still standing six inches apart anyway. "I didn't come here to cause trouble."

The corpse a few feet behind Jason came to his mind again and there was the barest cringing expression for a moment.

"... that was an accident? They tried to mug me. I thought they'd be tougher."

But he wasn’t particularly remorseful either.

"... what about you? You this world's Guardian? Have a name?"

[lazarusinred]

Jason noted the tension that Dirk still held and and told himself that was why his heart was still racing away. The easiest of answers was always, ready for a fight.

"The guardian of this world?" he asked with a short laugh. The laugh faded to a mild smile that did not change his eyes. "Nah, that would probably fall to one of the League assholes, and they'd have to fight about who got the title. Me? I just do what's right, especially when it isn't pretty. I'm called Red Hood, but you, you can call me Jason."

[evenindeath]

Jason, five letters such a damn normal name. Hadn't heard one of those in a while. Red Hood - rH - he ran through his memory quickly but that didn't fit any naming conventions he was familiar with either.

Had they done it? Really gotten out?

Another dozen questions flitted through Dirk's mind before being dismissed, they gave too much away. If he asked about his friends and they were still undiscovered it revealed their possible existence, he'd need to confirm if they were found first some other way.

If they were even here. Shit - what if they hadn't even ended up in the same reality? It would explain why he couldn't get a hold of anyone. Conversation across realities wasn't exactly easy.

"So, 'Gotham'," Dirk pronounced the city name like it was a foreign word he was mimicking a native speaker saying, in spite of his accent being all the Hollywood Lack Of Accent you got on any American television program. "Where exactly is that - and when is it?"

Explaining anything about himself needed some context first to figure out what to say.

[lazarusinred]

Time, space, and dimension traveling was remarkably familiar to Jason. Without that context the questions Dirk was asking would seem more suspicious. Still suspicious. Even so, some part of him wanted to believe that Dirk was not here to cause trouble. He could not let himself listen to that.

"Your timeline didn't have a Gotham? Lucky. United States of America?" Jason caught some recognition there and continued. "East coast-ish. About six hundred miles west of Metropolis. Forty and change east of Blüdhaven. Last I checked we were still in the 2020s."

Sometimes some fucker started messing with time again and your memory of what year it was and the year everyone else thought it was did not match up.

[evenindeath]

Absolutely none of those place names sounded familiar. The year - way off for everyone. If he was remembering correctly, it had been 2011 for Jake and when things started to go Wrong for Earth. Wrong enough to leave only two humans left alive by the time Dirk and Roxy entered the game in 2425.

He looked around, but there were indeed no drones blocking out the sky, just light pollution. He switched his gasmask out for his sunglasses - a glitched blur between being one thing and the next, like reality realized it had made a mistake and was correcting itself. Sliding the glasses back on, he still couldn't get the HUD to turn back on. He was going to actually have to find a place to get his tools out and do some repairs.

"What about - Austin, Texas? Rainbow Falls, New York?" He asked, voice carefully neutral, even indifferent still. Letting yourself show emotions meant you Lost, even if you didn't know what you were playing.

Shit was he on an earth so different aside from humans and English it was completely different?

[lazarusinred]

More interesting magic tricks, and more mundane tricks. Anything that obscured the eyes was a method of hiding the kind of tells you could not consciously control. These sunglasses were so fucking fancy he had no doubt they were more than just colored glass. Dirk might not realize it yet, but he would not stand out much in Gotham.

A list of names usually meant something to the asker. At least one of those had to be important to Dirk. However, it did not hurt Jason's position to answer honestly.

"Never heard of Rainbow Falls, but doesn't mean it's not out there. Austin, Texas, yeah we have those. State of New York, still there."

An Earth very different, but also very much the same.

[evenindeath]

While they weren't so tinted to completely obscure everything behind them, one really had to be within six inches to track the movements of his eyes behind the dark pointed lenses.

Dirk had to wonder if this was some kind of game of chicken they had going - what the win was, what constituted losing. He tried to not think about how few humans he'd been in this close physical proximity to in … ever…

"It's up by Lake Ontario, north side of the state," Dirk said automatically. Though in his and Roxy's time the lake was long gone, the falls themselves too, everything under constant raining fire.

So, hell, maybe Gotham and Bloodhaven and all that did actually exist once upon a time for his world too and just weren't talked about in any of the media that was left. Dirk hadn't been overly concerned with the world that was beyond what directly applied to what he needed.

"... I'm from a different reality. The universe I'm from was a doomed one, and I was working with others to find a way out after we realized we couldn't recover it. Guess it worked for me, at least. Didn't figure I'd wind up on a version of my home planet's distant past," Dirk explained, unsure if Jason was going to believe him but projecting that unwavering certainty his words would be seen for the truth they were. "So if I wanted to get in contact with one of those 'Justice Assholes', is that a possibility?"

[lazarusinred]

It was a scenario that Jason had already been calculating. There was no surprise to keep from registering. If Dirk was not being honest, well the truth always had a way of making itself known.

"Doomed reality refugee, huh? I'm going to save you some trouble and tell you now that if you came here to change something, that something is not going to happen in this timeline. That's how it works apparently," Jason said in casual tones. "But yeah I could get you in touch with someone from the Justice League of Assholes."

[evenindeath]

Dirk's eyes narrowed behind the sunglasses, lips pressing together into a shadow of a sneer before he could get his own face back in order.

"Yeah - I might not be the Time player but I'm not a fucking idiot, I know how the causality of stable loops work," Dirk replied through gritted teeth. "Besides, if the apocalypse that lead to basically destruction of humanity in my world was going to happen in this one it would have started ten years ago for you."

[lazarusinred]

Jason's eyes narrowed in return, but he did not bother to try to hide it. An escalation of nonsensical anger was also something he was used to.

"I don't know what you mean by 'time player' or 'stable loops,' but when people end up here from other realities it's because they wanted to change something. It's not always about stopping an apocalypse. Whatever change you wanted? Congratulations, you have it."

[evenindeath]

"I assure you, I fucking don't," Dirk replied unable to hold back a snarl. In the vast universes of things he wanted, ending up here and now only accomplished 'don't be stuck in a dying universe with the conditional immortality that promises you'll be there to see and experience when entropy leaves nothing left'.

And even that was a maybe. This universe could be dying too, just more quietly.

"The Time Player, the- you have no idea what I'm talking about," he realized before he said much more. "... we wanted out of the game, well - out you get."

What would even work now? Hys sylladex was operating just fine, the rest he'd need to test methodically to see what the limits were. If they existed.

"... what I want," he said after a moment, that forced indifference and calm returning, covering the still simmering anger, "-Is to know if anyone else made it out too. Seeking out a world's Guardian is the most basic first quest, if that's the Justice League of Assholes, I expect anyone who showed up here would have tried to contact them."

He made it sound like little more than professional interest. He didn't even call any of them his friends.

[lazarusinred]

Please address the actual JLA as the Justice League of Assholes. The thought warmed Jason's heart.

Players, quests, guardians, game. Some understanding could be built, but Jason felt a guide book short. A guide book and a full novel series short.

"This isn't a make-a-wish world. Didn't say you would keep getting what you want. You got out. Great. I can help you with what you want now."

[evenindeath]

"Because you're clearly so fucking helpful," Dirk said, because he couldn't not match insult for insult even if Jason had actually been helpful so far. "You also don't look like an animated blue asshole voiced by Robin Williams but fine, do I have a limited number of requests?

[lazarusinred]

"Even I get that reference," Jason said with small laugh. The anger abated leaving behind his standard intense moodiness. "No, no limits on requests." He regretted it the moment he said it. Far too giving. What the hell was wrong with him? A request was not a promise he told himself.

[evenindeath]

Yeah, even Dirk's blonde eyebrows became visible over the tips of sunglasses with how much they raised at that offer without conditions. Either Jason didn't actually mean it, he was stupider than he looked, or - some third angle Dirk hadn't figured out yet. He needed more data. Well, fine.

"Some place where I can check my gear and see what needs repairing would be helpful. Especially if I can get cleaned up."

Not that he looked like he needed that right then, switching out his clothing like he had, but better to wash what you could when you could otherwise he'd forget and get a nasty surprise next time he needed it.

Alright, genie, show your stuff.

[lazarusinred]

Simple parameters. Jason could think of a few options to set a stranger up for a night in. Beyond the cost then there was the question of how to stay in contact, if Drik truly wanted to reach the JLA. Not to mention leaving him to his own devices in a world Jason was pretty sure Dirk was a long way away from understanding.

Which left the apartment. It wasn't his base of operations, so nothing too sensitive there. He needed to go over his own gear and check on how his wound was healing. It made sense. Perfect, logical, sense.

To cover his time thinking Jason crouched to retirve the pistol he had dropped. He holstered it with a flourish. "My ride is not far. How do you feel about a jaunt across the rooftops?"

[evenindeath]

It felt like an exhale when Jason finally stepped back, Dirk using the opportunity of him fetching his dropped gun to straighten the hem of his tank top. It had ridden up a bit, as it turned out, in the scuffle.

"No better way to learn an area," Dirk said, conversationally. His own gear was already stashed, and much as there were plenty of smells from humanity as a whole going on here it didn't seem like there was literal poison that required the gasmask again.

Across the rooftops would also serve to put some distance between him and crowds, something hr was wholly unequipped to deal with.

[lazarusinred]

Jason pretended he had not noticed the ruffled clothing or Dirk's fixing of it. It was just being observant. The kind of observational skills that had been drilled into him.

Unlike Dirk, Jason did not have a pocket dimension to put his gear into. So back on went the helmet.

"Alright, up we go."

For a hot second Jason did consider using a grapple gun to get to the roof, just to see what solution Dirk would come up with. There was plenty else to be learned from less antagonistic approaches, however. With practiced ease Jason bounded up the wall and using the fire escape as a secondary point to jump back to made his way to the rooftops.

Jason liked it up here, and on a clear night like this with the moon out he could almost pretend it was a little magical.

[evenindeath]

The thing was, part of achieving god tier included the ability of flight. With everything unclear now, he wasn't too keen on possibly looking like a goddamn idiot in front of the third human male that he wasn't related to that he's ever met.

Fourth if you count the guy he killed, alright. But he wasn't attractive like Jason was.

So instead he followed Jason's lead up the fire escape, moving with the practiced graceful ease of someone who had been training at this since likely around the same age Jason started if not sooner. There wasn't much else to do when the rest of humanity was dead and all you had were the company of robots meant to prepare you for what was to come.

Up on the roof as well, he could see more of the city beyond that narrow alleyway and the sliver of sky above. There were still plenty of taller buildings in the distance, but it was still an incredible view.

"Alright… you were right about it being A nice night. Up here, anyway," Dirk admitted.

[lazarusinred]

"Sometimes it is a matter of perspective," Jason said and looked back at Dirk.

A matter of perspective. All the pieces of the fight and the charged conversation had painted an interesting picture. Up here where the glow of the city lights was softer and the touch of the moon was stronger took that picture and made it all the much more attractive. Jason was fucking thankful his mask hid his expression completely, but if he stared much longer it would be obvious.

"Off we go," he said before setting off across the roof. It was good to move, to focus on the rooftop paths. Not that he needed to, he knew the ways above the streets as well, if not better, than the streets below. However, it worked the tension out of his body and couple buildings later he was feeling almost nearly normal.

Not long after they came to the dim, narrow street he had parked in. The motorcycle was set for an easy exit, but also not in a place that easily caught the attention. This street had very little traffic of any kind at this time of night.

Landing lightly in the street after making sure no easy eyes would be on them, he strode over the motorcycle. When Dirk joined him, he asked, "Have you ridden on one of these before?"

[evenindeath]

Dirk by contrast didn't know the city, but he watched where they went, let himself learn the streets and pathways to take. Managed to not let himself be distracted by how many people there were. This far up, he could pretend they were like the denizens of Derse, the black carapace covered people of the shadow city where Dirk used to end up every night when he slept, where his dream self resided. That was the closest thing to a 'city' that he ever knew, and the people there were completely inhuman.

Every jump had him landing lighter on his feet than the last. When they landed in the street, Dirk was sure if they'd had one more jump he wouldn't have landed at all. Flight, probably check.

He regarded the motorcycle. It remained a motorcycle.

"Not exactly, but something similar."

(A rocket powered flying skateboard was not actually similar.)

"And I've seen them in movies."

How hard could it be?

[lazarusinred]

Should be good enough. At least for this trip. Jason slung a leg over the bike. The handlebars were low, which he had found easier to manage in a gun fight. The fact that meant it was also designed for speed was a bonus.

"You've got the easy job. Climb on. Foot rests are there," Jason said pointing them out. They did not exactly stand out from the rest of the machinery. Easy to miss if you were not familiar with them. "Then it is just hang on and follow my lead."

Just like in the movies. Sure.

[evenindeath]

Just get on the bike.

Right behind the attractive guy.

No big deal.

There was no outward indication that anything was different than the norm for Dirk as he got on the bike behind Jason, right behind him, wrapping his arms around Jason's waist to stay steady. On the other hand his heartbeat was hammering in his chest so rapidly it felt like cardiac arrest was a promised result any moment now.

Jake had been the only other person held this closely for Dirk. At all. For any reason. He kept his teeth gritted and just tried to keep breathing even and steady.

[lazarusinred]

Dirk was also the most attractive person Jason had given a ride on his bike before. He would not count Dick in this equation because Dick was his brother and was... well Dick.

Jason leaned forward and started the engine. It roared to life, temporarily drowning out his thoughts. Some nights he would just drive seeking those moments of quiet in his head.
Merging into the flow of the night's traffic was easy. He did not consider himself to be a reckless driver, just informed of his own skill. That meant driving well above the speed limit and weaving through the traffic in was that made more fussy and law abiding types uncomfortable.

Talia al Ghul was the first and only person Jason had kissed. To be more accurate she kissed him right before tossing him off a cliff. Jason had always assumed it had been a tactic to manipulate his freshly returned mind. He had always prided himself on not even slightly being tempted, to be above such feelings.

He had been hugged. Dick was his brother after all. The very grateful working girls too when he freed them of abusive fuckers and helped them work together for independence, he never felt anything other than gratitude. That was until it was working guys he helped. That, that had been different. He had found out he was not so immune after all. However, he was not the kind of prick who would take advantage of anyone. Despite what other people might think he did have a moral compass.

This in this moment, Dirk pressed to him arms around him, he could pretend that someone would want to hold him this way. That it was not just a requirement for the situation. For a moment he could feel a little less alone.

Bypassing the heart of Gotham's traffic was always a good idea, as was never taking a direct route home. He had to be sure he was not being followed, and so what if he took a much longer route than necessary for even that.

The apartment was in a nicer part of Gotham, but not too nice. The balance between heightened awareness from necessity and from snobby nosiness. It was the kind of building where no one knew anyone else and that was the way he liked it. Plus it had secure parking under the building and a landlord that enjoyed cash more than background checks.

Once parked and the bike was turned off Jason turned his head to his passenger. "Doing alright back there?"