/ Welp how much stress schoolwork can cause... well I´m back on track again and up with a brand new story. And yeah I know this chapter is short and yada yada, but it´s just a, as the title specifies - prolouge. Next chapter will for sure be longer. And possibly handle rather rough themes.

But for now enjoy! /

Chapter 1/Prolouge: A wild goose chase

Richard´s POV

How did I end up as the hero I am today? Who knows. Maybe it´s due to the tragedy of my parents' death, or from the moment I realized I'd been taken in by Batman himself. Or, maybe the role as a hero had been there from the very start. But how I became a Titan is another story, a story that´s long forgotten. At least, that's what I tell myself.

Nightwing gritted his teeth as he ran through the cold and foggy street. With a shaky breath, he wiped the sweat away from his face, before realizing his hand was both bloody and frigid, making his fingers stiff and sore. The man he was chasing was a rather tough bastard this time, both quick and smooth in his movements. Despite never getting a good look at his face, Nightwing could tell it was a man based on how his body was built, and by how deep and rusty his voice sounded. Possibly metallic. Somehow?

He shook his head, a heavy breath leaving him as he picked up the pace. This was not the time to reflect on stuff like that, for now he had to finish his work and put this guy in jail. The detective work will just have to wait. Nightwing knew the man wasn't too far ahead, he was catching up.

"I´ll say it ONE - LAST TIME! STOP!"

He growled with a steady voice, though he were still out of breath, as he continued to chase after the criminal. The figure appeared to not be slowing down, but instead speed up. God dammit.

"Fine then..." He murmured under his breath, reaching behind him to pull out a weapon. The joist he favored was soon in his hands as he positioned himself, preparing for a fight. Seems like it's about time to get serious. He shifted quickly, slamming the staff into the ice-covered ground once, pulling it back up just as quickly. He steadied the weapon before launching himself forward in the direction of the man. He landed a blow, colliding with the mysterious man and tackling him. In no time they were both on the ground.

The older male seemed to be out of breath as well, yet in a matter of seconds the situation drastically turned, as Nightwing suddenly found himself straddled underneath the larger figure. It was dark, and the lights made the villain a silhouette, so Nightwing still couldn't see his face. Flustered, he was too slow to react when a punch came his way. A perfect hit. Nightwing spit out some blood, coughing. Fuck I think my nose is broken...

"You fucking bastard..." He sneered coldly. "Get off me if you want to live."

It was a false threat; Nightwing still didn't take lives, and the other man didn´t respond, but Nightwing could see the glint of his eyes, and vague changes in his expression that let him know the man was glaring.

"Who the hell are you?" He asked as a follow up, determined to get an answer this time, but he got none. "Answer me goddammit!"

The other slightly frowned, tightening his grip on Nightwing with his legs before moving a hand up to his own neck. He grabbed hold of his collar and tugged it down slightly.

Speechless and now terrified, the other stared at the older one. It took some time, he didn´t know when he realized it - but once he did. He remembered everything. It couldn´t be anyone else. With the older man sitting up straight, Nightwing could more clearly see his features. The slim, tall body. The defined but soft features of his face. It couldn´t be him.

It just couldn´t.

He KNEW himself that he had heard a voice

He´d heard something!

Though before the raven haired young man could do much more about the situation, everything went black.