Avoiding Past And Future

October 25

Both boys got in position. Neither one taking a particularly defensive stance, not giving any hint to what their plan was. It wasn't their first spar, they've spent way too many hours playing in the BatCave before Alfred would have to come in and make them take a break.

The team watched on, the ever-present agitation still mudding the mind link. No doubt were they pissy about Robin being Phantom's sparring partner. Really, it was their own fault. They could have volunteered as well but of course, that would involve actually interacting with Phantom and getting their asses beat for a second time. Their initial meeting in Belle Rêve was still too fresh on their minds to take a blunder like that.

"Are you ready?" Canary asked, looking over both Bats. She wasn't quite sure what to expect. Robin had always been rather meticulous at holding back during practice. He may be the youngest, and the smallest, but he's been fighting meta-criminals for a good 5 years now. The point isn't injuring team members so, out of everybody, he had the most unspoken restrictions. Now being up against a clone however, it begged the question of how it will end up playing out.

One excited and one bored hum echoed across the room, identical smirks adorning their faces as they waited for the signal. "Ready to lose?" Robin taunted, making a show of cracking his knuckles and neck.

Phantom stage-yawned, stretching out like a sleepy cat. Sharp canines yet again on display, eliciting a wave of unease through the link once more. "If you were any less threatening, you'd be a dandelion, birdie." He laughed as Robin puffed out in discontent.

The moment Canary's whistle sounded, the room was engulfed in dense smoke. Dual cackling echoed from all corners of the room. Little crackling explosions came from all directions, effectively disorienting the bystanders as they tries to figure out where the two had gone. As the smoke slowly dissipated, it became clear neither boy had remained on the platform.

"Tt, copycat." Robin grunted from up above. The two of them had found their way up to the ceiling. Perched on different hanging lamps, they stared at each other with smiles brighter than the lights themselves.

Phantom snorted, casually kicking his feet. "That's what we call the improved version." Neither of them were showing just how genuinely serious they were actually taking it.

Rule 1 of Bat sparring, mind games are all fair game, especially when there are spectators

Robin rolled his eyes, dismissing the brag with a lazy throw of a batarang. "Improved on no level but dumbassery." He muttered, not even surprised Phantom dodged it by simply flipping backwards and around the lamp to land in the same spot again.

"Ah," he sighed contently, "So you admit I'm on your level, just better." Phantom did nothing to attack him back, just sitting there, dangling his legs like they were having a cozy chat.

Robin, however, let out an annoyed huff. "I never said that!" Attempting to cover up Phantom's cackle, he threw some minor explosives his brother's way. Even if they did hit, it wouldn't have done him any harm. It was more so to get that giggly bitch moving into a better spot for him to do anything.

The small flash only lasted a second, but it was more than enough for to Phantom to get up and twirl around the supporting wires. "Magique." He whispered, laughing at the sea of emotions down below. He was more than aware that the team was watching his every move. The least he could do for his reluctant audience was put on a show.

Carelessly, he threw another smoke bomb out. Timing it just right, it exploded right between the two of them, clouding them in darkness once more. Not that it mattered for them at least, more than used to working in the dark foggy air of Gotham.