Self-Similar

For: ryuutchi

Batman had been missing, Nightwing otherwise occupied, Batgirl somewhere else. It had fallen to Robin to keep Gotham from exploding for the foreseeable future, a task that -given his resources and the city in question- was basically beyond the reach of police science as it stood. So he had mined Batman's extensive databases, developed sophisticated models, and finally come to the conclusion that he needed not a scientific genius, but somebody a couple of notches above genius level. The problem had been that the logical option was also the most dangerous one.

So Tim had decided to widen his field of options.

"So this is what a parallel universe looks like." The young man's genotype was unmistakable, facial features and lack of hair included.

But he seemed to be more curious than... greedy. Alex Luthor looked around at the Cave. "Gloomy."

Tim activated the main display. "This is Gotham. It has no counterpart in your universe, but I've organized for you all the relevant historical and statistical information, together with our current mathematical models about crime dynamics. My hope is that you will be able to improve them enough to find a workable long-term solution for the city."

Alex sat down in front of the computer. "Sounds like fun." It was the last time he'd smile for the next eighty-three hours, as he first reviewed, and then improved, the available research. His first work was exploratory, but it eventually went in complexity and speed beyond what Tim could follow, which was an encouraging sign. Alex's comments were less encouraging.

"I've done some work on social modeling before, Robin, but much of it doesn't seem to apply here. I'm not even sure the same statistical psychopatterns hold in your universe as they do in mine." He looked askance at Robin. "For all I know, that might be the reason behind all the costumes."

Tim ignored him. Luthor's sense of humor -as well as his seeming aversion to crime in his home universe- were somewhat disquieting, but he had worked under worse conditions. "What do you need to adjust your research to this universe? More data?"

"I have enough data. I need a feeling for it. Let's go out."

It went well at first. Tim had to keep a delicate balance between showing Alex what he presumably needed to work out his research and keeping him alive; too much data would probably kill the researcher.

Robin's usual patrol provided plenty of opportunity to observe Gotham's criminals in action, and Robin varied his routine to make sure Alex gathered as much information as possible. What hadn't been planned was the gunshot they heard two blocks away.

Robin moved toward it as quickly as possible, barely in time to catch the mugger and perform first aid on the victim. Alex caught up with him a few minutes later, and stood pale over the shot man as Robin stabilized his wound.

He refused to go away when the ambulance came, waited as doctors treated the man, and then sat in his hospital room, watching him silently.

Robin entered through a window. "Alex," he said. It was disquieting to see somebody with Luthor's face so obviously distressed at the bedside of a stranger.

"I'm sorry," said Alex. "I must look silly to you, I just don't..." He smiled self-deprecatingly. "He'll be ok."

Robin put a hand over Alex's shoulder. There was nobody in the room to be surprised by it. "That's a good thing."

Alex put his hand over Tim's. It felt like a shared smile.

Alex's research continued, becoming more esoteric. As far as Robin could tell, he was studying the early history of Gotham, quantum physics, trace elements in the water, and, for some reason, meso-American legends.

Tim put the food tray next to Alex. As usual, that had been Alfred's province at the beginning, but as of late Tim had taken over it. It was a fascinating study some times.

"Thanks," said Alex, grabbing a sandwich.

For example, that. Alex seemed to actually relish eating and sleeping, instead of considering them regrettable necessities to be managed as efficiently as possible.

"How are you doing?" asked Tim.

Alex smiled. He did that a lot, lately. "An idle question you could learn from my logs, Tim? Why, you almost sound human."

"Camouflage practice."

"Heh. Well, I do have a bit of a plan. Take a look." A complex set of interlocked diagrams covered the display. "It's just a rough sketch, and nowhere near a complete fix, but this should decrease crime incidence rates between thirty-five and fifty-two percent in the long term."

Tim scanned the plan. "I'm not saying I understand all of it, but it looks interesting. Hmm. Those points over there, don't they assume specific technical advances during the next few months?"

Alex shuffled in his seat. "Right. Don't worry, I'll take care of it. I mean, if you are not bored of me by then."

Tim raised an eyebrow. "I'll let you know if that happens."

* * *

It was two years later. Alex returned to his universe a long time ago, but the mathematical models and technologies he had left behind had made a deep impact in Gotham, and after Batman's return, things had actually been, if not good, at least better than they had ever been. Robin now spent more time than he used to on the computer, working on Alex's models to maximize their efficiency.

An alert interrupted Tim's work. There was a signal coming from an unidentified origin through a strange self-describing encryption protocol.

Tim set up a restricted connection. It was Alex.

"Hi!," said the man, a smile crossing his face. "How are you doing?"

Tim nodded. "Fine. Is everything alright over there?"

Alex shrugged. "Sort of. I've been thinking some more about about cross-universal social microengineering, and---" Somewhat embarrassed, he held in front of the camera a black and red exoskeleton.

It had engraved an all-too-familiar symbol.

"I think I need a Robin."

Tim smiled.

.finis.