Dixie had no memory of how she came to be leaning against the golden gate bridge railing,
looking out into the murky water bellow the dark night sky. The bridge supplied both a link
to the mainland but also a place of isolation, just outside of the street lights, club music and
car horns. It was where the city smoke thinned and one could breath in the frosty air and feel
the chilliness fill their lungs.
Jason was dead. The news was still a whisper on the tip of her tongue. When Batman told
her, everything slowed. Voices began to fizzle away, her hands reached out to push through
the door, her feet carried her across the hallway and time slowed even more. Yet she still
could not remember how she got here- ghostly holding the railing. How long had she been
there?
She had only met Jason a few times, her and Bruce had argued a lot after they were
introduced and she had moved fully into mount justice for a month or two. The replacement
had approached her, and where Dixie prepared herself to recite the monologue she had been
planning for so long, about how robin was hers, her mother's memory and her life, Jason had
asked her to help him, to make him worthy of her childhood name. Alfred had been happy to
have her back, Bruce not so much. They stayed out of each other's way mostly, but it didn't
work forever. After finding out about the police academy, he had locked her out the cave, but
it would only be one weak till she could move into her apartment in Bludhaven. Jason
hugged her goodbye and Alfred gave her a food basket. They smiled and cried a little. Jason
was a good kid and they had bonded over his training. She has happy it was him who wore
the colours of the batman's partner.
She had just got back from patrol as Nightwing one night, climbing through the window and
removing her mask, she went to the cupboard for a glass of water. That was when there was
a knock at the door. Very few knew her address and even fewer would be knocking on
someone's door at 5 in the morning. But after looking through the peep-hole, her panic
eased. Jason stood on the other side with a large duffel bag, looking down with stiff
shoulders.
Opening the door, they made eye contact, and Dixie could see the anger roaring in his eyes.
Jason had had a pretty hefty argument with Bruce, so after comparing stories of how batman
was a terrible partner, they stayed up drinking hot chocolate and binging Disney movies.
The following night, Jason slept on her sofa while she went on patrol, sneaking in 2 hours
sleep before another knock on her door. This time it was Alfred- there to pick up Jason.
After that, Dixie Grayson and Jason Todd never really spoke. It was only as Nightwing and
Robin on missions along with young justice would they talk.
She thought how young he was, in which she remembered how young she was. There was
only two years between them, it could have happened to anyone. They weren't like Bruce,
who had been in this fight for too long.
Looking back at all the little snippets of conversation they shared, the wind picked up and
pulled towards the sea. Her hands gripped the side tight, trying to keep place both mentally
and physically. She didn't cry, she just reminisced, she had to stay positive.
In a more controlled gust, kid flash appeared behind her. Looking worried for his friend.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, she crumbled. Closing her eyes, she turned around and
leaning into his arms, as he supported her in a hug. Her legs shaked and the tears started to
rain down her cheeks.
"Where all going to get through this together D, your not doing this on your own" wally's
words whispered into her hair. "just breath for me, okay?"
She focused on controlling her breathing and drying her face, before hugging him again.
"How did you know i would be here?" She questioned.
"What can i say, best friend instinct"
"Wally, there's no such thing" she mumbled into his chest.
"Well, a little bat might of had something to do with it, maybe"
"Of Course he did"
They stayed like that for a few more minutes, before pulling away. Looking into each others
eyes, they shared a little of the pain on that bridge, before the kid flash sped her home, to
Wayne manor, then speeding home himself.
That night, Rachel Grayson slept in her large bed in her large room, with her high ceiling, but
felt more at home than anywhere else, knowing Bruce and Alfred would be ready to mourn
with her when she was ready.