[center][img]https://drkwaitingroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/robinbanner-1.png[/img][/center] [hr] [b][color=28b0f3]Gotham[/color][/b] [color=darkgray]Gotham Academy[/color] Dick was in his and Luke's shared dorm packing his bookbag with the things he needed for tonight's excursion with the Detective Club. [color=28b0f3]"Flashlight. Check. Rope. Check. Lockpick. Check. Swiss Army Knife. Check. Pocket Knife. Check."[/color] [color=B0C4DE]"Why do you need both a Swiss Army Knife [i]and[/i] a Pocket Knife?"[/color] Luke asked without turning his attention from his book. [color=28b0f3]"Sometimes you need both. A pocket knife's more practical for combat."[/color] Dick answered as he continued to place things in his backpack. [color=B0C4DE]"I still don't get why you [i]play[/i] Detective with the [i]Pizza Club[/i] when you're a real one. How is that fun?"[/color] Dick stopped packing and turned around to look at Luke, whose face was still glued to his book. [color=28b0f3]"I love you, Luke, but I'm not taking a guy whose idea of fun is reading an engineering book seriously in a debate about fun. Plus, we're not playing Detective. We're actually discovering mysteries in the school. This time we're tracking down rumors of a ghost on campus."[/color] [color=B0C4DE]"I know how to separate fun and education, Dick. And another ghost case? Wasn't the last one a giant crocodile man under campus?"[/color] [color=28b0f3]"His name is Waylon and... yes. But this one is real. You know that upperclassman creep, Billy? His sister disappeared mysteriously before we got here. Our sources say the ghost is her."[/color] [color=B0C4DE]"If he's responsible for his sister's disappearance and she's a ghost don't you think this is a job for Batman?"[/color] Luke asked while putting down his book to show that he was concerned for his friend's safety. [color=28b0f3]"Batman has more important things to worry about and I need to show him that I can handle things without him so he'll trust me more."[/color] Dick answered. [color=B0C4DE]"Speaking of... How is it that these detectives haven't figured out that you're secretly Robin?"[/color] [color=28b0f3]"Because I cover my tracks well."[/color] Dick answered smugly. [color=B0C4DE]"No, I cover your tracks well. I've been shielding you from their questions. If you keep disappearing on them like you do they'll start to get suspicious."[/color] [color=28b0f3]"Have I told you how much I appreciate you?"[/color] Dick asked with his best sympathetic smile. [color=B0C4DE]"Nope. But I know. Anyway, you're late."[/color] [color=28b0f3]"Shoot. You're right."[/color] He turned back to his bed and grabbed his backpack before heading to the door. [color=28b0f3]"See you later, Luke!"[/color] He opened the door and ran to meet his friends. [color=B0C4DE]"Now where was I?"[/color] Luke asked as he picked up his book to continue reading. [hr] [center][img]https://i0.wp.com/thenerdsofcolor.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/gotham-academy-teaser.jpg?fit=900%2C665&ssl=1[/img][/center] Dick met up with his friends at the meet-up spot and pretended that he was out of breath from running all the way there. [color=28b0f3]"Sorry— I'm late. Got caught— up talking with Luke."[/color] [color=#C4C4C4]"You're lucky you're our lockpick guy. We almost left you."[/color] Olive said. Maps nudged Olive with her elbow. [color=9FE2BF]"Don't sweat it, Dick. Olive doesn't mean that. We're glad you made it. Isn't that right, Pom?"[/color] A hint of red, hidden by her blush, appeared on Pomeline's cheeks. [color=orange]"Huh? Why ar—nevermind. You brought what we needed in your backpack?"[/color] Dick nodded with a smile. [color=28b0f3]"Yep. Dora's got nothing on me."[/color] [color=F0E68C]"Let's just get going before we get caught."[/color] Kyle interjected. The group nodded in agreement and started walking when Dick felt the buzz of his cellphone in his pocket. No... Not now. Why now? He sighed and stopped walking. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and saw Kate's name. He knew it. He deliberately left his comm so that he wouldn't be called in. [color=28b0f3]"Hold on. Sorry, I gotta take this."[/color] The group stopped and waited for the phone call to end. Olive was annoyed. First he was late and now he was stopping them for a phone call. Dick turned around before sliding his finger across the screen to answer the call and lifted the phone to his ear. [color=yellow]"Dick, where are you? I tried to reach you on comms."[/color] [color=28b0f3]"I'm at school with my friends. I had plans tonight."[/color] [color=yellow]"Sorry, bud. Plans are canceled. We need you at Robinson Park. Batman needs you."[/color] She went and played that card. She knew saying that Batman needed him was all that he needed to hear to drop everything. He hated being left out of his missions and was still upset about not getting to fight the Mad Monk with Thomas. He sighed deeply, losing the war in his heart. He hated leaving his friends, but he knew that if Batman needed his help it was serious. [color=28b0f3]"I'm on my way."[/color] He hung up the phone and turned around to see his friends' disappointed faces. [color=28b0f3]"I'm so sorry, but I have a family emergency. If I could stay, I would."[/color] He took off his backpack and handed it to Maps. [color=9FE2BF]"Hey, we get it. Family's important. At least you didn't leave us hanging."[/color] Maps said trying to make him feel better even if she was honestly a bit disappointed. [color=28b0f3]"Thank you for understanding, Maps. Next time nothing's coming between me and the Detective Club."[/color] Dick said before running back in the opposite direction. [color=#C4C4C4]"Your boyfriend sucks sometimes, Pom."[/color] Olive said with an eyeroll. [color=orange]"He's not my boyfriend and he doesn't suck."[/color] Pom asserted in his defense. [color=orange]"He's been through a lot this last year. It's not like he can say no to Thomas Wayne whenever he calls."[/color] Olive went silent out of guilt. With everything she's been through she forgot that Dick also lost his parents. She was going to start cutting him more slack. [color=#C4C4C4]"You're right. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking about that. Where are we going to find someone else who can use a lockpick this late?"[/color] Kyle raised his hand as if he were in class. [color=F0E68C]"I know you three aren't fans of Colton, but he's pretty good with one."[/color] Olive's eyes lit up. [color=#C4C4C4]"You're a lifesaver, bae. Can you get him, please?"[/color] Kyle nodded and ran off to Colton's dorm room. [color=9FE2BF]"He can join on a trial basis tonight, but he's not replacing Dick. He's a founding member and our friend."[/color] Maps said as she turned to Olive. [hr] Alfred was waiting outside the school in one of the Wayne Family cars when Dick opened the door to the backseat and hopped in. His costume was waiting for him. [color=28b0f3]"Thank you, Alfred."[/color] Alfred could tell something was bothering him but started driving the car before he asked him about it. "My pleasure, Master Richard. Is everything okay?" [color=28b0f3]"I'm fine, but whoever interrupted my plans tonight won't be."[/color] He answered before closing the divider between the front and backseat so he could start changing into his costume.