A/N: Happy birthday to me! So, this is one of my attempts to fix the tragedy that was Batman Inc. #8. It addresses the biggest problem I had with the issue, which was Nightwing being knocked unconscious by the Heretic and not waking up until the tragic ending. Red Robin was trapped by the model plane but Dick was where he could save him. Dick had already lost so much, this is just torture. *And to add even more to the torture, we had a startling revelation in Nightwing #18 today.
To all my other fans out there that are hopefully reading this, I am still working on my other stories. I just need time to work Damian's death out of my system.
Note: I have another Damian story that I am going to write, similar in ways but different as well. It is called Flamebird. Kudos to those who can figure out where the name comes from and why.
4/21: fixed missed line.
Disclaimer: I do not own, especially this first chapter.
Warning: Spoilers for Batman Inc. #8
Prologue:
He was fighting beside Police Commissioner James Gordon against a crowd of children. He didn't want to fight them and that reluctance was allowing them to overwhelm them. That was, until a familiar figure swooped by through the air, knocking out several of the children, but not without a final word. "What would you do without me, Grayson?"
"Robin?"
A second later he was coughing into a mask as one of the kids used his arm to protect his own mouth and nose. "*KARRF.* Midtown." The smoke started to clear and he looked up, watching Robin fly away. "He's headed for Midtown. I gotta leave your guys to mop up here, Commissioner." He addressed the last part to the Commissioner, apologetically. He had a brother to save. He rushed over to his motorcycle and hopped on it. Starting it, he headed towards Midtown.
He arrived at the Wayne Enterprises Building Red Robin had messaged he was headed to just in time to see Robin in danger from some of Talia's men who were aiming laser guns and arrows at him. He was not paying attention, still boasting after having electrocuted a group of assailants. Nightwing had no time to stop his bike. He drove straight through the window nearest Robin and jumped off his bike, colliding with Robin. "What would you do without me?" he joked as he protected Robin from the lasers.
A few seconds later they were hiding behind a sideways U-shaped concrete sign for Wayne Enterprises . "You're supposed to be home!" he exclaimed quietly. "He'll kill Alfie for letting you loose."
"Pennyworth is blameless," "Robin replied, beginning to remove his flight armor. "Father seriously underestimated the situation. Grayson, I'm very pleased you're here as a matter of fact."
"You got Red Robin's message," he said. "Your mom's occupied Wayne Tower, Batman's up there somewhere…You flew right into a warzone." He knew it would only confirm Robin's belief that he should be here, but he had to try.
"Where I belong," Robin replied, supporting his thought. "This is the result of years of accumulating anger. But she is still my mother and maybe I can reach her."
Nightwing sincerely doubted that but unfortunately (this time) Damian was as stubborn as their father.
"This is our last chance to prevent a catastrophe," Damian continued. "Are you with me Nightwing?"
He grinned. "When did we ever let something like that get in the way?" he replied, "Robin the Boy Wonder, Damian." He rolled two pellets into his hand from a tube he had pulled out from his belt.
"So far I'd say you've been my favorite partner," Damian told him and the sense of foreboding he had had all day grew. Damian never typically said things like that. "We were the best, Richard," Damian continued, "no matter what anyone thinks."
He tried to be his usual joking self so as to not alarm Damian though he doubted he was successful. "Hey, we can't help being great." With that, he tossed the two pellets in his hand over the wall.
"Ready?" Damian asked. With that, the two of them jumped over the wall as an explosion sounded behind them.
"We should do this more often," he said, reffering to what Damian had told him not to long ago when he was dealing with the aftermath of the Joker's attack on Haly's and Amusement Mile.
"That's what I said!"
Together they turned and rushed into the smoke the two pellets had caused. They began to fight.
"And don't get cocky!" he ordered as they both knocked out their own oppponents.
"Says you," Damian retorted.
Suddenly, they both found themselves punching a familiar masked man in white robes.
"That worked out," he said, paling. "Robin. Get out of here now!" He found himself suddenly choking, struggling to breathe in the strong, high grasp of the Heretic's hand.
"Leave him alone!" Damian was shouting "Look at ME!"
Suddenly, he was thrown and he collided with a knight mannequin, blacking out.
When he came to, his mind was far from foggy. Fear fueled his as he pushed himself up, hoping he was not too late. Turning his head, he watched as Damian aimed his crossbow and arrow at his clone. He wasn't able to hear what Damian was saying but judging by the small girl near the clone and his ability to lip-read, he had an idea. He definitely had to agree that Bruce would not be happy with what Damian was about to do. He watched as the arrow pierced the clone in the heart and Damian kicked him in that area, hoping to ensure his demise. It didn't work. He had to admit the way Damian sat on his slightly flaming brother's shoulders a few seconds later would have been funny if it wasn't for the arrows from those stupid Leviathan men and the clone trying to break Damian in half over his knee.
Dick couldn't take any more. Fury and protectiveness forced him into standing and he found himself rushing to the now duo (luckily the girl ran off) just as Damian was thrown into a wall, defenseless.
"…Call him off at once…Mother…" he barely heard Damian say with his enhanced senses. His sensitive ears picked up an unfamiliar tremor in Damian's voice and he could just see a sight he hope to never see; Damian…genuinely afraid for his life. Something inside him snapped and he heard the familiar hoot of an owl as with all the strength he could muster and all his willpower that he attacked his brother's clone.
"Leave my little brother alone!"
He didn't remember what happened next and frankly he was relieved. He didn't want to remember how he had broken the oath he had made as a child. What he did remember was Damian's expression changing to fear for him mixed with disbelief as he cried out a word Dick had never thought he'd hear.
"Dick!"
He only had a glance of the sword sticking out of his chest where his heart was before he became cold, his vision started to fade to black and lose consciousness.
Throughout Gotham and even the world the members of Batman Incorporated as well as everyone who knew Dick Grayson froze in shock as the Earth seemed to tremble. A select few villains grinned as the seemed to realize the Gray Prince of Gotham had taken the first steps to the life they had seen he would shine in.