fourth leap | from a tablet in no way traceable to that other kid Robin's

[pixieboots]

[ Dick’s sitting in a nondescript corner of what’s probably the cafeteria, facing the screen at a front and center angle that could almost pass for a little rehearsed. He’s tired and drawn, posture curled in and oddly small. He has a hand in his hair, awkward and unsettled. If he's been practicing this, it's not showing much. ]

I, um. Hey.

I just wanted to say I’m turning myself in now. As one of the guys who brought down the systems and took over the base. [ Specificity is important. His eyes aren't on the tablet anymore, but he's still speaking. ]

-Which I know I could’ve done couple of days ago. But I didn’t because I thought maybe... [ a faint, rushed breath out. ] –maybe I could still fix it. And maybe it’d just be easier if I didn’t say anything. [ For the people in jail. And the people on the outside. ]

...But it wouldn’t be. That would just be me letting somebody else take the whole rap for something a lot of people already know I had a hand in. And then not speaking up is on them too. So it has to be this way. [ He’s thinking about you, Kate. 8( ]

...Anyway. That’s just the good news. Just- I wanted to do the right thing. Not just now, but then too. And I still believe in all the same things I did before, which is... [ he has to say it, he can’t let it go. ] –yeah, they’re real people. I know they are. But when it comes to fighting their own war they’re just getting people killed.

But what- what I did about it wasn’t okay. Guys like me, we- [ It's a little specific, that word. ] -we have to follow the law even when we don’t like what it says. When we start to let the system go, that’s when everything falls apart. That’s when people get hurt. And that- I know me knowing that now doesn’t change what happened, but... [ It’s a thought that trails off unfinished. ]

But whatever the other guys get, that’s what needs to happen to me too. [ the word "mutineer" is pretty noticeably pissing. And there’s a belated moment where he stops, halfway out of his folded up pose. He’s not in a position to make demands, he knows that. But- ]

...The one condition is that you don’t get a package deal out of this. You just get me.

[Barely five minutes later, there's an addendum to this post, coming from the same tablet but in audio, and the voice is very much not Dick Grayson's.

Steph's tone is sharp, but steady:]

I want you all to know that this will be discussed with Rosyln, but no one is to even think about laying a hand on him. The same goes for any accusations or harsh words you might wanna start throwing around, regardless of what he claims to have done. From this point on he is under my supervision and protection, and he won't be harmed.

[She might have been against the mutiny, but she doesn't trust the people on "her" side either, not when so many of them were howling for blood.]

Don't test me.

Hey, I didn't!-

[The feed cuts again. Replies by Dick probably delayed ICly! ]

Comments

[voice; private]

[legal_eagle]

That depends. Is it what you want?

[voice; private]

[pixieboots]

...Yeah. It's kinda my fault she's freaked out. [ why is nothing he does today helping. ]

Is it gonna mess with your groove if she listens in?

[voice; private]

[legal_eagle]

No. My groove is unassailable. But you have the right to private counsel without anyone listening in. And it's my job to ensure you get that if it's what you prefer.

[voice; private]

[pixieboots]

She can listen. It's really okay.

...Thanks, though. [ She'd cared enough to ask. ]

[voice; private]

[legal_eagle]

No need to thank me. So, your room?

[voice; private]

[pixieboots]

Yeah, that'll work. You can come by whenever you're ready.

action I am doing this you can't stop me

[legal_eagle]

[And, about fifteen minutes later, there's a knock on the door.]

cuts in here you can't stop me either

[controlledvariable]

[Steph opens it, moving aside to let Sonya in.]

Hey, Sonya, thanks for coming to us.

[Instead of making her take Dick out in public.

But since this isn't about her now, once the door is relocked Steph takes up her previous spot on Joel's bed, back against the wall and doing her best to be unobtrusive.]

can't be tamed

[pixieboots]

[ He's on his feet the moment Steph is; already he's stir crazy which probably doesn't bode well for the months or maybe years he'll be spending in a place just like this.

He raises his hand in a small wave, still hovering in awkward middle of the room space while he offers up a grin for Sonya. ] Hey.

rawr

[legal_eagle]

Hi.

[Steph gets a very slight lift of her eyebrow, but Dick gets a genuine smile from her, a nod of her head. At once, she crosses over to the bed and seats herself, nods beside her for Dick to take a seat.]

Go on, sit down. This'll take a few minutes at least.

[pixieboots]

[ And he hops up beside her with his tablet still tucked in his lab, legs crossed. ]

I figured you'd want a written statement, so I put one together ahead of time. Just in case you needed it right away.

[legal_eagle]

Good on you. You won't be offended if I edit it as necessary, will you?

[She holds out her hand with a smile of invitation.]

[pixieboots]

Nah, of course not. [ And he hands the tablet over. ] You'd know more than me. I just thought it'd give us a place to get started.

[ And it's a pretty brief report that just summarizes Dick's fairly small role in breaking the network and his subsequent work feeding information to the other mutineers during the stand-off. Everyone's names are omitted but Dick's. ]

[legal_eagle]

[That last fact gets a little half-smile out of her as she reads.]

Well, you ain't no rat, that's for sure.

[pixieboots]

That's the part that can't change. [ And his smile fades just a bit while he studies her expression. ]

Whatever happens to me, nobody else gets brought in unless they come out on their own.

[legal_eagle]

[She tilts her head very slightly to study him. She knows the answer to this question already, but wants to hear him affirm it - not least because in a scary, stressful time like this, it always feels nice to be able to assert something you're really confident about.]

Even if it'll get you more favorable terms?

[pixieboots]

Yeah... [ He drops his eyes a little, but his expression doesn't waver. ] Yeah, I'm sure. Can we do that?

[legal_eagle]

Of course we can. What we do is up to you.

[She gives him an encouraging little nod.]

And this is a good statement. You did well with this.

[pixieboots]

Yeah? [ His reaction to the praise is just a little overeager, all hopeful smiles and a slight posture shift. ]

Must be a natural. [ Lies he's just had practice. ]

[legal_eagle]

[And Sonya...well, by inclination she's mean-spirited, crabby, and unpleasant as a person, but, well...She does have at least one major weakness. And that weakness is that she's a big sister, and any time there are kids who look like that her icy heart melts.

So there's real warmth in her smile, something very genuine.]

Seems like it. Once all this is over, I should poach you to work as my paralegal. You ever considered a job in the law?

[pixieboots]

Something like that. I guess I always figured I'd be a cop someday.

[ He's beaming a little, because it's nice to have someone notice. ] You'd really give me a chance?

[legal_eagle]

Smart kid like you? I'd damn well say so. Heck, I'd be lucky to have you.

[pixieboots]

I'm gonna hold you to that when this is all over. [ Whether she means it or not his smile doesn't falter for a second. ]

[legal_eagle]

[Warmly:]

You better.

[And then:]

I think, given your age and the way that you've come forward, we can probably avoid imprisonment. You weren't involved in any violence, right?

[pixieboots]

No. [ Not this time is on the tip of his tongue, but he holds it instead while his face falls a bit. ]

But I endangered people. That's still a crime, isn't it?

[ It would be back home, but he can't look too good without giving a few other extracurriculars away. He keeps his face open and a little concerned. ]