Prompt Post - Part Eight [CLOSED TO NEW PROMPTS]

[yj_anon]

THIS PART IS NOW CLOSED. YOU CAN CONTINUE POSTING FILLS, BUT PLEASE PROMPT ALL NEW THINGS HERE.
Part one here!

Part two here!

Part three here!

Part four here!

Part five here!

Part six here!

Part seven here!

Feel free to reprompt posts from previous parts once. If you do so, I'd recommend leaving a link to your fill on the original prompt, in case somebody

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Questions through the years [1/??]

[anonymous]

[okay, so finals have been upon me so yeah, this isn't finished yet. And yes, I do believe Renee and Vic desperately need to be in YJ, they would be awesome.]

The first time Robin meets them, he doesn't quite know what to think. Granted, he's only been doing this for six months but he doesn't think a suit and the sweater-dress thing the girl's wearing are exactly practical for their work. Honestly, he would've passed them on the street without a second thought if it wasn't for the fact that neither of them had a face.

Still, he tries to maintain a professional composure. This guy has to be good if Batman is asking him for information. The thought's less comforting than he'd like. The girl surveys him under that faceless mask as their mentors stare each other down. Dick thinks Batman might actually lose a glaring contest. For once. Then again, how fair's the contest when one participant can blink without anyone noticing? But the man nods at Batman, tipping his dark blue fedora at the hero, and the stalemate is broken.

"Why have you called me out here?" The man's voice is, honestly, kinda creepy while his tone suggests he's humoring a nutjob.

"Who's the girl?" Batman asks instead of briefing him. Okay, something was definitely up. Batman did not engage in small talk.

"None of your concern," the man answers and turns, the girl half a beat behind him, "Now if that's all you were after-"

"The Marconi family is moving into Gotham," Batman says and the man twitches like the fact isn't at all surprising, "I need you to find out why and how to stop them. They are, after all, from your area."

Suddenly, it all snaps together. The man is the Question, Hub City's protector and reputed madman. The girl is something of an enigma but Robin supposes even madmen are allowed to train proteges. Maybe the guy isn't actually crazy, maybe everyone just thinks he is like Batman.

The Question waves his hand dismissively. "Talk to the Huntress," he says and there's a pointed barb on the end of his statement, "Crime families are her specialty, not mine."

Robin winces a bit at the comment while Batman doesn't react. Does everyone know about that feud now?

"Internet blogs," the girl says to him and is it just Robin or is she smirking at him, "You'd be surprised what's out there."

"How'd-" he starts but she interrupts with a shrug.

"No face," she says with a laugh like that's supposed to answer the question. Robin scowls frustratedly when he can't decipher it.

"Enough of this," Batman growls and reclaims control of the conversation, stepping between Robin and the girl, "Question, if we work together, we can end their operations in both our cities."

Question shifts and Robin suddenly has the uncomfortable feeling the guy's glowering at Batman through his mask.

"And allow someone worse to take their place?" Question seethes, "Allow THEM to place their own, specially funded choice at the top of the food chain in the ensuing power vacuum, thus giving them the opportunity to funnel even more money into their operations? No."

Okaaay, Robin had the feeling he was missing something.

"Uh, who's them?" he asks tentatively and sees Batman tense. The Question nods at him, like it's the first worthwhile statement in this whole exchange.

"Who indeed," Question says.

Robin blinks. Maybe the rumors aren't too far off after all.

"I'll get you the information to stop the Marconi advance and no more," Question says resignedly and turns, "Shall I send it to the regular PO box?"

"That's fine," Batman confirms, "And Question, leave Huntress out of this."

The Question snorts. "If you really wanted the Marconi gone, you'd bring her in."

"We don't kill."

"Oh, please, we both know sometimes we do more damage leaving them alive than killing them," Question waves dismissively, "Expect my package within the week."

As the faceless duo walk into the sunset, Batman turns to Robin. "Don't listen to a word he says," he orders and Robin nods.

Questions through the years [1b/??]

[anonymous]

Three days later, as Bruce is taking the evidence to Gordon to formulate a plan, Alfred hands Dick a package of his own. No return address, save a question mark, a simple one, not like the Riddler's, in the left hand corner.

Dick pulls the note out first. Its handwriting is plain, save a few flourishes on the r's and m's.

'Question everything. Misdirection is our best friend.'

Dick knows he should be unnerved that the Question or his student found them. But he can't be, not with the skill it would take to figure out their identities. And if he admits it to himself, it's kinda lonely, no one knowing what he really does. Not even Wally knows Dick.

He hides the books before Bruce returns. Somehow, he doesn't think his mentor would appreciate a treatise on how drug cartels were really running the government. But the volume on hacking, and specifically how to hide your trail with the least amount of effort, he plans on memorizing ASAP.

Besides, it's not like Dick actually told them he was Robin.

Re: Questions through the years [1b/??] - not!OP

[anonymous]

This is FANTASTIC! Vic and Renee as Questions! TOGETHER! (Sorry, really excited about that.)

Plus, mention of Huntress! author!Anon, you have made my day.

Re: Questions through the years [1b/??]

[anonymous]

Dick can learn a lot about fail safes from those two.

Awesome so far. Now that everyone knows that Wally knows Dick's identity, it's rare to come across a fill exploring the 'what if he doesn't?' and the ensuing loneliness. Can't wait for more!